ICMI chairman rejects 'Islamization' charges

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie has denied allegations that government and military institutions are being Islamicized.

"The allegation is not true," Habibie told ICMI members after installing the new executive board for ICMI's Jakarta chapter on Saturday.

Habibie, who is also minister of research and technology, said the fact that many devout Moslems hold senior positions in the bureaucracy and military does not reflect Islamization.

It shows that Moslems in the world's fourth most populous country have made a lot of progress over the past years, he said.

Moslems account for 88 percent of Indonesia's 195 million population, according to official figures.

Founded in 1990 with President Soeharto's support, ICMI has been controversial from the beginning. Its officials say that it is positioned to help Moslems improve their social and economic status.

Critics, including some Moslem scholars, say that ICMI's officials exploit the organization to achieve their political goals.

In its latest congress last year, numerous top government officials, in their personal capacity, were on the list for its leadership board.

President Soeharto was named chairman of its board of patrons, the same position he holds in the ruling Golkar group. Vice President Try Sutrisno and two senior cabinet ministers are among the board's 10 members.

Eight of 13 ICMI advisory board members are cabinet ministers. They are Abdul Latief, the minister of manpower; Ali Alatas, minister of foreign affairs; Subyakto Tjakrawerdaya, minister of cooperatives; Akbar Tanjung, minister of public housing; Tungky Aribowo, Minister of trade and industry; Ginandjar Kartasasmita, minister of national development planning; Harmoko, minister of information and Haryono Suyono, minister of population.

ICMI currently has 36 chapters with more than 450 branches, including eight abroad.

Habibie said that the presence of devout Moslems in the government is only natural because of the large proportion of Moslems in the population.

"Don't be surprised. Even if only 10 percent of outstanding Moslems are there, the number is still big," he added.

According to Habibie, more and more officials are demonstrating their devotion to both the state and religion, which did not happen in the Dutch colonial era.

In addition, he said, devout Moslems are no longer suspected of sympathizing with the cause to turn Indonesia into an Islamic state. (01)