ICMI ponders collective leadership system amid new challenges
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) is discussing whether to change its presidential leadership system and adopt a collective one as suggested by former president B.J. Habibie.
Support immediately grew for the proposal which was raised by Habibie, a respected figure who cofounded ICMI in 1990, during the second day of the association's national congress on Monday which will end on Wednesday.
Habibie said the collective leadership system is currently needed by ICMI to face various challenges ahead in achieving success in its national programs.
"If you have only one leader, you will only have one networker. But if you have seven leaders, you will have seven networkers. That means one problem will be quickly solved," he said in his talk during the four-day congress in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
"We have to remember that ICMI's future challenges are numerous and weighty," he added.
Many participants of the congress supported the suggestion that ICMI adopt such a presidium or collective leadership system. A discussion on the issue started on Monday night.
"Pak Habibie's proposal is good. It is suited to future challenges ICMI may face. But the decision is in the hands of congress participants. We will accept whatever decision is made," organizing committee member Iqbal Parewangi said.
Senior ICMI figures have agreed to use the ongoing fourth congress as a "momentum for ICMI's second awakening", in which Habibie said the association would return to its "Islamic, nationhood and intellectual" roles.
During the regime of former president Soeharto, the then Habibie-led ICMI was part of crucial political forces that played a key role in government decision making. At the time, Habibie was Soeharto's close confidante who served as the technology minister.
However, ICMI had no role in the 1998 reform movement that led to the ouster of Soeharto. Its strategic role has diminished in the post-Soeharto era.
"ICMI has so far been shrouded in uncertainty and is almost disoriented, so that its voice is not heard during the current reform era," said Din Syamsuddin, who chairs Muhammadiyah -- the nation's second largest Muslim organization.
"It has even been apathetic toward problems faced by Muslims. Therefore, ICMI needs a true intellectual as its leader," he added.
Meanwhile, the names of more than 10 Muslim figures were touted as candidates to contest the leadership race during the ICMI meeting on Tuesday night.
They included State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiarto and Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Hatta Radjasa as well as People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and Constitutional Court President Jimly Asshiddiqie.
Also expected to contest the election were former National Commission on Human Rights member Solahuddin Wahid, economist Didik J. Rachbini, Golkar politician Marwah Daud Ibrahim and Habibie's son Illham Habibie.
However, Sugiharto said on Sunday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who opened the congress on Sunday night, did not approve of him entering the race, while Hatta said he was waiting for Susilo's endorsement of his bid.
Jimly declined to be nominated, arguing the law prohibits the head of the Constitutional Court from leading any other organization.