Hartono says he has no political motives in ICMI

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Hartono said yesterday he had no political motives in joining the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI).

The newly-appointed minister of information said his desire to join ICMI stemmed purely from his own empathy towards the organization's activities.

"I need ICMI to broaden my knowledge on Islam and technology," he told reporters as he was leaving his office yesterday afternoon.

Hartono said he was sure there were a lot of religious and nonreligious experts in ICMI who could share their experiences and knowledge with him.

"I believe it will be useful for me to join ICMI," he said.

Hartono, who was appointed minister of information last June, has gone out and stated very early on that he is supportive of ICMI's activities.

"Over time, ICMI has developed into a great organization, with activities that have proven beneficial for the betterment of the nation," he said.

Hartono is now one step away from obtaining ICMI membership.

After meeting with President Soeharto on Tuesday, ICMI chairman B.J. Habibie said the president has given the green light for Hartono to join the association.

"The President said there was no problem with Hartono joining ICMI," Habibie, who is also minister of research and technology, said, adding that ICMI would gladly welcome Hartono's membership.

Soeharto has been very supportive of ICMI, which was established in 1990.

Hartono said yesterday he was waiting for Soeharto's reply to his request of meeting him. "I've sent a letter to President Soeharto asking to meet him to ask for his approval."

As a cabinet minister, Hartono is required to seek Soeharto's approval before joining an organization.

"Now I have an opportunity to join the organization because I am no longer an active soldier," he said, pointing to the fact that he could not join ICMI while he was in the Armed Forces.

"I have long known about ICMI, even before its establishment in 1990," he said.

"I was chief of Brawijaya Regional Military Command, remember?" he said, referring to the fact that he was East Java military commander when a meeting was held in the province to form the association in 1990.

Asked whether he would be willing to be nominated for the association's chief post, Hartono replied, "How can I answer your question when I haven't been accepted as an ICMI member yet?".

"Besides, I don't think I am qualified for the chief position since ICMI is a big organization with a lot of experts," he said humbly.

Hartono's desire to join ICMI has drawn speculation from many observers, saying he would take over the leadership of the association from Habibie, who has been its chairman since the group's founding.

Meanwhile, ICMI's secretary-general Adi Sasono said yesterday that the association would soon hold a meeting to discuss Hartono's membership.

"We'll send the application form to Hartono, while he waits for President Soeharto's approval," he said.

Adi denied suggestions that Hartono's entry would increase ICMI's political leverage, saying that ICMI was not a political organization.

Adi also downplayed speculation that Hartono and Habibie would be competing for the vice-presidential position.

"Let us leave the decision to existing mechanisms ... through a general meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly," he said.

Hartono and Habibie are widely viewed as part of a select few tipped as possible candidates for the vice-presidency. Others include incumbent Vice President Try Sutrisno, State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and State Minister of Special Assignments and chairman of Golkar Harmoko. (imn)