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)