Hartono gets ICMI membership

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information R. Hartono officially became a member of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) yesterday after receiving a membership card from the association's secretary-general.

ICMI secretary-general Adi Sasono, accompanied by head of ICMI's Department of Media Communications Development and Foreign Relations Parni Hadi and two other ICMI officials, handed over the ICMI membership card to Hartono at his office.

"Pak Hartono happily received the ICMI membership card," Adi told reporters after meeting with the minister.

It was also Adi who went to Hartono's office on Aug. 7 to personally hand over a membership application form and books on ICMI activities.

Earlier this month Hartono obtained President Soeharto's permission, a prerequisite for cabinet ministers, to join the association. Soeharto is a patron of the association.

Political observers have said that Hartono's membership in ICMI would significantly boost his chance as a vice presidential candidate.

They tipped Hartono as a front-runner for the vice presidency when the People's Consultative Assembly makes its selection for the top executive posts next March.

Hartono himself denied that his desire to join ICMI was politically motivated, repeatedly saying that he had long been an admirer of ICMI since its establishment in 1990.

Hartono was appointed as minister of information replacing Harmoko who was appointed as state minister of special assignments. (imn)