ICMI urges transparent leadership succession

ICMI urges transparent leadership succession

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI) ended its two-day annual conference
Wednesday evening, calling for transparency in the five-yearly
state leadership succession.

The recommendation, read out by young ICMI cadre Aida
Pitalaya, said it is now necessary to develop a peaceful and
transparent tradition on state presidential and vice presidential
elections.

"People's increasing aspirations, in line with the ongoing
development program, is a must and an unavoidable political
process," read the statement, as quoted by Antara.

Present at the closing ceremony, held in Cipayung subdistrict,
West Java, were Chairman B.J. Habibie, State Minister of Public
Housing Akbar Tanjung and officials from the ICMI central board
and nationwide chapters.

The association, however, declined to issue a political
statement on their candidate for the state leadership.

Chairman B.J. Habibie said at the opening of the conference
Tuesday that it would leave the process to the existing
mechanism, the general meeting of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR).

The 1,000-member MPR will reconvene next March to elect a
president and vice president and endorse the 1998/2003 State
Policy Guidelines.

The association said the country needs a strong legislative
council and judicial body to absorb people's increasing
aspirations.

"Indonesia wants reforms," the statement said. "A strong
legislative council and judicial body are needed to supervise
government policies, so that they will always consider people's
aspirations."

The association said the reforms should contain changes on the
existing sociopolitical structure and system.

"The reforms should meet all expectations established by the
country's founding fathers, for a modern Indonesia," it said.
"The process should include the acceleration and the achievement
of democratization."

The association said the process should also include law
enforcement and transparency on any sociopolitical and economical
interactions.

The association also said the nation should consider reforms
in the process of future general elections.

"Future general elections should be direct, universal,
voluntary, and secret," it said.

"They should also be held honestly and fairly."

The association said through such a process, members of the
legislative council would be the ones who truly represented the
interest of a free and independent people.

The existing moral dilemmas have caused a variety of moral and
behavioral crisis, which are difficult to tackle within a short
period of time, the association said.

The people's decreasing discipline, lack of social solidarity
and corruptive moral behavior are a regular phenomenon these
days, it said.

The association suggested social institutions, including
economic, educational, cultural and religious sectors be
restructured to directly "guide" the people to a more responsible
and noble society. (imn)