Muhammadiyah backs Amien
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization after Nadhlatul Ulama, fully endorsed Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais's presidential bid, but some fear it could upset the delicate political balance in which most large religious groups remain neutral.
In a political statement to conclude its plenary session in Yogyakarta on Monday, Muhammadiyah emphasized that Amien was the country's best hope and the reformist figure was still committed to fully implementing the ideals of reformasi.
The group called on all its members, PAN supporters and anyone else who is a reformist to vote for Amien because he was not corrupt, had a good political vision and was able to put the nation on an international stage, to improve the people's social welfare and to achieve a better future.
Muhammadiyah Chairman Syafii Maarif said that with the political statement's issuance, his organization had no intention of being involved in practical politics and wanted Muhammadiyah members and others to interpret it.
"Muhammadiyah fully supports the upcoming legislative and presidential elections and will consistently accept their results but the people, including Muhammadiyah supporters, know who they want to lead the nation. Muhammadiyah does not want to be involved in practical politics, but Muhammadiyah members will fight all out for Amien's victory in the presidential election," he said.
He said that according to Muhammadiyah, the first ever presidential and vice presidential elections would be an important step for democratic development and that momentum would be used to make changes and salvage the nation from the prolonged multidimensional crises.
The Muhammadiyah congress gave no rational and democratic reasons, as to why it gave its full support to Amien, as this could bring the nation back to the 1955 general elections where parties linked together along ethnic-religious lines and depended far too much on their own supporters and on party leaders, instead of their political platforms and programs.
In the meantime, for similar reasons, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) called on its 40 million supporters to vote for the National Awakening Party (PKB) with former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as its presidential hopeful.
NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi said in Surabaya, East Java, that PKB was NU's political vehicle and NU members and supporters should fully support the party that had its home base in East Java.
Asked to comment on NU's political neutrality, Hasyim said: "We must play a high-level political game. We support PKB but we won't do it as we did in the past. The political support will come not from the NU institution but from NU members. NU members will be obliged to cast their votes for PKB and the latter should recognize the NU membership of those who give their support to other parties."
Hasyim who is also eyeing the country's top post, said he could not speak too much about NU's political support for PKB due to fears that he and his possible presidential race would not be accepted by people from other ethno-religious identity groups.
Cak Anam, chairman of NU East Java provincial chapter, said his organization would nominate Hasyim as PKB's presidential candidate if Gus Dur resigned from the race.
The above political polarization will force small Muslim organizations and the minority groups to seek political affiliation with other parties. The old, but small Masyumi organization are expected to ask members to vote for the Crescent Star Party (PBB).
Such shallow group identity links are still found in elections in developed countries, but voters in general, back parties which offer realistic programs and are committed to improving their social welfare and channeling their political aspirations.
In a related development, former president B.J. Habibie also met with Amien in Yogyakarta but there was no confirmation on what issues the two were discussing during the meeting.
Habibie met Amien after he delivered his speech at the Muhammadiyah meeting.
Amien said Habibie made a courtesy visit and there was no political discussion during the meeting.