Minority PDI exploits ulemas' discontent at PPP

Minority PDI exploits ulemas' discontent at PPP

JAKARTA (JP): The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
is exploiting ulemas' dissatisfaction resulting from their defeat
the recent battle for leadership in the Moslem-based United
Development Party (PPP).

In the latest move, PDI leaders plan to approach an
influential East Javanese ulema who has announced his intention
to abandon PPP in favor of PDI.

Cholik Murod, one of PDI's deputies, said yesterday that the
party's leadership plans to meet with Alawy Muhammad from the
predominantly Moslem Madura Island.

Alawy is one of the numerous ulemas under the Nahdlatul Ulama
(NU) whose efforts to grab the PPP's top spot in a party congress
last week ended in failure.

For many ulemas like Alawy, it is hard to recognize the
party's new leadership under their political foe, Ismail Hasan
Metareum of the Muslimin Indonesia (MI) faction.

Alawy sparked a controversy last week when he announced his
intention to quit PPP and join the PDI, a 1973 fusion of
nationalist and Christian forces, so long as its programs are in
line with "Islamic visions."

As other ulemas has sent mixed reactions to his maneuver, PDI
chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri has enthusiastically welcomed
his plan.

"We want to meet with him and break the ice before we can talk
about his wish," said Cholik, an NU ulema from Central Java that
PDI tactfully uses to attract more voters from among Moslem
scholars.

Cholik said PDI programs are already in line with Islamic
visions. As examples, he cited the party's resolve to fight for
the eradication of poverty and equal justice for all.

"We are certain Alawy will see that the content of the party
programs are already Islamic," he said.

Although prominent NU ulemas have openly expressed their
dissatisfaction with the PPP congress, which placed their figure
only at the second position of secretary general, some have
criticized Alawy's move.

Sulaeman Fadeli, for example, has deplored Alawy's plan,
saying that it run counter with the ulemas' commitment to
strengthening PPP disregarding the factional conflicting
interests.

Sulaeman, the incumbent chairman of PPP's East Java chapter,
says if Alawy goes ahead with his plan, it would only cut down
the party's gains in the 1997 general election.

Golkar

Alawy's move has also received cool response from his fellow
ulemas in Central Java, one of NU's strongest bases.

Sahal Mahfud, an NU deputy chairman and one of Central Java's
prominent ulemas, said the government-backed Golkar political
grouping makes a more suitable alternative than PDI for Moslem
scholars.

"Let's be realistic. Golkar is a more likely choice for us,"
he said.

Both Megawati and Golkar chairman Harmoko have been competing
for Moslem voters to jack up their parties' tally of votes in the
1997 general election.

They have never failed to visit Islamic boarding schools and
meet with ulemas during their visit to the provinces, activities
widely seen as "election campaigns in disguise."

Sahal said it would not be easy to have NU members shift their
political affiliation from PPP to PDI, let alone boycott the
election as recently suggested by NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid.

Sahal described Alawy's plan to join PDI as "emotional." "As a
respectable ulema, he should not have announced his feeling that
way. He could have refrained from making such comment and vote
for PDI when the election comes without much fanfare." (pan/har)