ICMI accepts Golkar's decision on MPR

ICMI accepts Golkar's decision on MPR

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the influential Association of
Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie accepted
yesterday Golkar's decision to remove five senior ICMI members
from the faction's nomination list for the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR).

"No problem," said Habibie, who is also state minister of
research and technology. He said his organization, the bulk of
which was made up of members who were public figures, such as
cabinet ministers, never prepared its members for positions in
political bodies such as MPR.

"ICMI has not prepared its members for MPR... because we are
not a political organization," he told journalists after
attending the commemoration of National Technology Day at the
State Palace .

He said the association's members did not only come from
Golkar but also from the United Development Party and the
Indonesian Democratic Party.

The unexpected removal of ICMI Secretary-General Adi Sasono
and senior members A. Watik Pratiknya, Jimly Ashidiqie, Muladi
and Dawam Rahardjo from Golkar's list of nominees for MPR last
week caused a public uproar.

"There's nothing wrong if the five members do not sit in MPR,"
Habibie said.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono separately said he could
not understand the outcry over the elimination of the five names
from the list because it was still too early to talk about the
composition of the assembly.

"The President hasn't even issued a decree on the House of
Representatives' (DPR) membership," he said.

The 1,000-strong MPR will hold its general assembly next March
to draft broad guidelines of state policies for the 1998/2003
term and elect a president and vice president.

The 500-strong House of Representatives will fill half the
seats in MPR, while the other half of the assembly will be filled
by members of various social groups, such as intellectuals.

Moerdiono said he did not know whether Golkar had selected its
members for MPR.

"What I know is there is still no presidential decision about
the People's Consultative Assembly," Moerdiono said.

Minister of Information R. Hartono recently decided to apply
for membership at ICMI, a step widely regarded as boosting his
possible candidacy as the next vice president.

President Soeharto has given his blessing for the retired Army
general to join ICMI. (prb)