ICMI elects Adi Sasono to accompany Habibie
ICMI elects Adi Sasono to accompany Habibie
JAKARTA (JP): The congress of the Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) came to a smooth end yesterday with the re- election of B.J. Habibie as chairman and the election of activist Adi Sasono as secretary general.
Chairman of the council of electorate Haryanto Dhanutirto, who is also Minister of Transportation, read out the results of the 45 council members' negotiations on Friday and yesterday, to the congress' last plenary session.
Not many surprises occurred, except for the posting of former minister of environment Emil Salim as member of the advisory board. Initially, the respected economist had reportedly been a favorite for the position of chairman of the advisory board, or even a contender for Habibie.
To loud cheers, Haryanto announced Habibie as chairman of the 1995-2000 executive board of the increasingly powerful and influential organization which so far has amassed 25,000 members across the country and abroad.
Watik Pratiknya, chairman of the meeting, closed the plenary session by leading the some 1,000 participants to yell Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) three times.
Habibie himself was absent during the session.
Earlier, Haryanto explained to the gathering that the council had met on Friday for around six hours to establish an electorate team of seven, chaired by Habibie himself.
The council also unanimously named Habibie as new ICMI chairman.
Habibie then led the other team members yesterday in establishing the impressive line-up of the new executive board, which some people said reflects an effort to please everybody.
The team named President Soeharto, in a personal capacity, as chairman of ICMI's board of patrons.
Members of the board are, among others, Vice President Try Sutrisno, former vice presidents Umar Wirahadikusumah and Sudharmono, former religious minister Alamsyah Ratuperwiranegara, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, and senior economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo.
There are two other ministers in the board of patrons: Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs Saleh Afiff.
Senior ulema K.H. Ali Yafie was named chairman of the advisory board. The some 1,000 congress participants cheered when Haryanto announced the names of the 45 board members, which included nine cabinet ministers, former minister of trade Satrio B. Joedono, and Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the eldest daughter of President Soeharto.
"This organization deserves this kind of attention from the top leaders of the country," commented Ahmad Totonji, a leader of the Moslem community in the United States who attended the congress as an observer.
International relations expert Amien Rais, who is also chairman of the 28 million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, was appointed chairman of ICMI's board of 28 experts.
Included in the list are Edy Sedyawati, the director general of culture, political observer Amir Santoso, and cooperatives leader Sri Edi Swasono.
Congress sources said the meeting of the electorate team encountered last minute glitches over the position of secretary general.
Although the congress in general reportedly favored Adi for the post, there had been efforts by some parties to place Jimly Asshidiqie, a senior bureaucrat at the Ministry of Education, in the position instead.
In the end, Jimly was named Adi's deputy.
Earlier on the day, the congress also issued a recommendation which called for greater attention to the problems of social integration, poverty alleviation, human rights and democracy, and sustainable development.
The congress was officially closed last night by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas at the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center. (swe)