Muhammadiyah congress on July 8

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The congress of the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah Muslim organization is set to begin in Jakarta on July 8 and continue through July 11 an organization official said on Friday.

Muhammadiyah treasurer Sukriyanto told journalists here that some 1,500 delegates would participate in the congress.

The opening ceremony of the congress is scheduled to be held at the Senayan Sports Complex. Muhammadiyah officials claim it will be attended by some 400,000 supporters.

The main item on the congress' agenda is the election of the Muhammadiyah chairman.

Rosyad Saleh, former religious affairs minister Malik Fadjar, Amien Abdullah and the current chairman, Syafii Ma'arif, are the top candidates, officials said.(swa)