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)