ICMI strives to survive amid recent political changes
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)