Intellectual wooed by politicians
Intellectual wooed by politicians
JAKARTA (JP): Intellectual Emha Ainun Nadjib, who has been
wooed for membership by the three political contestants, said
Sunday he did not care less if his name was used for publicity by
any political party.
Emha earlier turned down the United Development Party's (PPP)
offer of a seat in the House of Representatives. He was also
reportedly approached by the ousted leader of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The three political organizations -- PPP, PDI, and the ruling
Golkar -- will compete for 425 seats in the 500-seat House
Representatives in next year's election. The remaining 75 seats
have been allocated to the Armed Forces, whose members do not
vote.
"I don't mind if any of the political organizations contesting
next year's election want to use my name. Even Allah Almighty
does not seem to mind if His name is exploited for practical
purposes," said Emha during the launching of the book Tadjus
Sobirin Tokoh Tanggung dari Kampung (Tadjus Sobirin. Halfway Hero
from the Village).
Tadjus is chairman of the Jakarta chapter of Golkar.
Emha, a Yogyakarta-based playwright, poet and columnist, said
Indonesia was in the midst of psychological and political
conflicts. He did not elaborate.
He said only "the ability to laugh at ourselves is therefore
extremely crucial for the nation to ease the tension".
Emha's critical stance on various sociopolitical issues have
in the past resulted in the banning of his plays or poetry
readings in several cities.
Also known for his dry humor, Emha said he was attracted to
Tadjus for the latter's deep sense of humanity and not because of
his political affiliation.
Tadjus is outspoken. When he was regent of Tangerang, West
Java, he grabbed nationwide attention by placing a knife in front
of a Golkar executive and asking him to slit his throat if he
failed to win victory for Golkar in his regency.
Aburrahman Wahid, leader of the 30-million strong Nahdatul
Ulama Moslem organization, said in the book's prologue that
Tadjus should be noted for his loyalty to the public. (06)