Moslem coalition launches campaign to help the poor

Moslem coalition launches campaign to help the poor

JAKARTA (JP): A coalition of Moslem organizations launched a
public service campaign yesterday to help alleviate people's
suffering during the monetary crisis.

The drive, called the Komite Aksi Untuk Pelayanan Masyarakat
(KAUM) or the Committee for the Public Service, was marked with a
prayer led by mullahs from various organizations and closed with
a fund raising event.

"The most urgent thing to do is help Indonesians suffering
from the monetary crisis," said Ma'ruf Amien of the Syuriyah
(law-making body) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization
in his address at the gathering held at the Sunda Kelapa Mosque
in Central Jakarta.

Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslems organization Amien Rais,
speaking on the same occasion, said settling the crisis needed
people's participation.

"This is the worst monetary crisis that has ever happened in
the country," Amien said. "It will take everybody's cooperation
to settle the crisis."

The drive was initiated by the Association of Indonesian
Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) and other Moslem organizations
including Muhammadiyah, Forum Ukhuwah Islamiyah, the Indonesian
Council of Islamic Propagation, the Coordinating Agency for
Indonesian Moslem Youths and the Coordinating Agency for Islamic
Boarding Schools.

The event was attended by several Moslem leaders, including
Hussein Umar of the Indonesian Council of Islamic Propagation,
Ahmad Tirtosudiro and Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo of ICMI, and
economist Sri Edi Swasono.

ICMI's secretary-general Adi Sasono said the committee would
mobilize donated funds and basic commodities to the poor.

Adi said the committee had collected almost Rp 1 billion
(US$76,923) during the first day of the two-day preliminary
campaign, held at the Pondok Indah Mosque in South Jakarta
Monday. (imn)