Habibie names friends for his new foundation

JAKARTA (JP): Former president B.J. Habibie has named some of his close friends to the key posts in his new foundation, the Habibie Center, which could reclaim the heyday of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) he founded in 1990.

One of Habibie's colleagues, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, said on Saturday that the country's third president might stay out of ICMI and fully concentrate on the center instead.

"He (Habibie) will focus on developing the center," Marwah said during the opening of ICMI's annual congress here on Saturday. Habibie failed to turn up for the function, where he was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech, due to another commitment out of town.

Habibie is officially still at the helm of ICMI, but became inactive when he was elected vice president in March 1998 and succeeded then president Soeharto who resigned two months later.

Under his leadership, a number of ICMI members joined the Cabinet, thanks to his close relationship with former president Soeharto, whom he recognized as his mentor.

Marwah, a Golkar Party executive and House of Representatives legislator, said she had been appointed the center's head of media development. Former justice minister and state secretary Muladi has been named the center's head of human rights affairs.

The center's other executives include former education minister Wardiman Djojonegoro, Jimly Assidiqie and Ahmad Watik Pratiknya, who were known as all the president's men while Habibie was in power.

"The center currently groups dozens of activists, but in the future, we will have hundreds or thousands of members," Marwah said.

However, she dismissed speculation that the center would help Habibie run for the presidency in 2004.

"The center is committed to developing human rights and democracy as well as human resources and maritime development," she said.

Habibie announced his plan to set up a foundation which was aimed at promoting human rights and democracy after the People's Consultative Assembly rejected his accountability speech in October.

Since his departure from the political scene, Habibie has not made any public appearances. He is expected to close ICMI's three-day event on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, political observer Fachry Ali suggested that ICMI members should look for Habibie's replacement if it wants to make a break with the past.

"It's better to choose a person with a more intellectual state of mind, such as economist Emil Salim," said Fachry, who is also an ICMI activist.

He suggested that ICMI return to its original mission as an intellectual organization. According to Fachry, who helped Habibie draw up his presidential accountability speech, Habibie's influence led to ICMI being involved in political practices.

To maintain ICMI's independence, Fachry said, it should first move from its current office, which is in a building belonging to the State Minister of Research and Technology Office/Board for Research and Application of Technology on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta.

Habibie was a long-time minister of research and technology under Soeharto. Habibie's successor, Zuhal, is also an ICMI member.

The minister of research and technology under President Abdurrahman Wahid, Muhammad A.S. Hikam, is a renowned critic of Habibie and ICMI.

Commenting on Fachry's suggestion, ICMI's secretary-general and former minister of cooperatives Adi Sasono said: "It's a good suggestion." (jun)