ICMI strives to survive amid recent political changes

JAKARTA (JP): Senior executives of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) are shrugging off predictions of the organization's demise despite the descent of its chief patron, B.J. Habibie, from the presidency.

ICMI secretary-general Adi Sasono expressed on Friday confidence that the association would survive in the current political climate.

"We have a strong organizational structure and ideology," said Adi, who was minister of cooperatives and small enterprises during Habibie's 512-day term.

Speaking to journalists, Adi claimed that the association remained strong and trusted, evident by the inclusion of ICMI cadres in strategic positions in the government, including as ministers in President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet.

He maintained that newly installed Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Basri Hasanuddin as well as Minister of Education Yahya Muhaimin and State Minister of Human Rights Affairs Hasballah M. Saad were ICMI cadres.

Another ICMI executive, Muslimin Nasution, challenged those who believed that the end of Habibie's presidency would spell the end of the association.

"Our relationship is not the common patron-client relationship where if the patron falls then the client is also affected," Muslimin, also former minister of forestry and plantations during Habibie's tenure, said.

Founded in Malang, East Java, nine years ago, ICMI slowly developed into a force to be reckoned with in the political arena with Habibie at its helm.

Many critics have said that the association was used merely as a vehicle by Soeharto and then Habibie to gain political support, particularly from Muslims in the middle class.

Abdurrahman Wahid, from ICMI's inception, at the time bucked the trend of his fellow contemporaries and refused to be affiliated with the association.

In fact before being elected president, Abdurrahman along with fellow political observer A.S. Hikam, was known as a strong ICMI critic.

Many said that Habibie's fall and the rise of Abdurrahman would spell the end of ICMI.

Adi seemed aloof when asked how the ascendancy of ICMI critics to high government seats would affect the association.

"We are neither against nor do we support the government, we will be critical of the government," Adi remarked.

ICMI will hold a four-day national congress starting on Saturday. People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who is head of the association's expert council, is scheduled to address the opening of the congress. (jun)