ICMI wants to work with non-Islamic groupings
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie Saturday emphasized the need for ICMI to strengthen cooperation with organizations of other faiths.
Speaking on the second day of ICMI's annual congress here Saturday, Habibie said cooperation with other organizations of intellectuals -- such as the Catholic ISKI, the Protestant PIKI and the Hindu FCHI -- was a must. This was because all had the common goal of improving the spiritual and intellectual lives of Indonesians and all had accepted Pancasila, the state ideology, as the basis of their respective organizations.
Although total cooperation might not be achieved because of religious or dogmatic reasons, common concerns could bring the organizations together in cooperative projects, Habibie pointed out.
Members of ICMI, he said, should encourage openness to promote better understanding among organizations.
"But mere openness is not enough, as we have to give correct, transparent and clear information," he said.
He added that openness should not be seen as "a total nakedness because all organizations have the right to keep their little secrets".
ICMI currently has a local branch in each of Indonesia's 27 provinces, and a 28th branch in Bogor, West Java, which embraces a considerable number of Moslem intellectuals.
Habibie said that ICMI, which was established in 1990, had no intention of competing with other Moslem groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest organization with most of its members in remote villages of Central and East Java, and Muhammadiyah, which runs schools and Moslem education centers throughout the country.
A catalyst
"ICMI is in fact a catalyst for all these groups," Habibie said, pointing out that many noted members of these organizations were, in their personal capacity, also members of ICMI.
ICMI, during the three years that it has been in existence, has grown into a strong social and political force in this country.
ICMI members include high-ranking officials in the ministerial cabinet as well as leading Moslem individuals. President Soeharto, in his private capacity, became ICMI's chief patron last year.
Habibie admitted that ICMI's strong influence has caused certain people to use their membership in the organization as a way to advance their own personal interests.
"I won't mention any names, but I know who these people are...the list is on my desk," he said.
"It is these people whose spiritual attitudes need to be upgraded... They have to understand that if they are not qualified for a job, then they cannot have it just because they are a member of ICMI," Habibie said.
He said that ICMI's objectives were to fight ignorance and poverty among Moslems and that it did not belong to a particular political group. (pwn)