ICMI ponders collective leadership system amid new challenges

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.