Muhammadiyah elections draw closer

By Santi WE Soekanto and Wisnu Pramudya

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The ongoing 43rd congress of Muhammadiyah has seen the emergence of many people widely believed to be chairman material.

Most have disclaimed any interest in the top position, but intensive lobbying has been the norm and several of the people listed below have become top contenders.

Amien Rais, a candid political scientist

The incumbent chairman of Muhammadiyah is known for his earnest approach to various social and political issues. He grabbed nationwide attention two years ago when he brought up the issue of national leadership succession and campaigned for public discussion about the politically taboo subject.

Two months ago, he said he was sure that the congress would be marked by disgruntled members' campaigning against him. However, he vowed to iron out differences and resolve problems before they disturb the organization's cohesiveness.

He managed to do this by convincing more than 100 leading members, most of whom are senior ulemas more knowledgeable than he on religious matters, to include Lukman Harun, said to be his foe, in the list of chairman nominees.

Amien is a leading member in the influential Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals as well as a professor at the School of Political Science at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

Some reporters who have followed his hectic schedule during the run-up to the congress said that the man, who usually appears to be in control of his emotions, can "explode". At least two reporters have felt what is like to be scolded by the apparently agitated man.

Amien, who writes a column in the Republika daily, is easy to talk to about virtually anything. In contrast with a number of other political observers, who invariably have negative views on almost any development, Amien gives a far from monotonous commentary about various issues.

Sometimes he sharply criticizes, other times he appears very cautious, treading on some issues with praiseworthy sensitivity.

Amien, an unassuming man, calmly goes about his daily activities as a staff lecturer at Gadjah Mada University and at the Research Center for Policies Studies.

The second of five children, Amien said his mother used to wish that he would become a kyai, a traditional Moslem scholar. As if to fulfill his mother's wish, Amien, who studied in the United States at the University of Notre Dame and Chicago University, later became a mubaligh, or Moslem propagator.

Ahmad Syafii Maarif, a passionate commentator

Some reporters covering the Muhammadiyah congress have found out that when agitated Syafii grows red in the face. He then lashes out at whomever he feels is intruding into the organization's internal affairs. He bristled at the statement of a high-ranking military official that the Armed Forces wouldn't favor any candidate for the top Muhammadiyah post.

"Of course they wouldn't. Who gave them the right to try to do so, anyway?" said the lecturer at the Yogyakarta-based Teachers Training Institute and visiting professor at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

During the last several days Syafii has become one of the most sought after figures. He usually answers any question, but gets mad when asked about his interest in the chairmanship.

"(Positions) are not important. There are many things I want to think about," he said.

Born in Sawahlunto, West Sumatra in 1935, he obtained his doctorate at Chicago University in 1982. His thesis was entitled "Islam as the Basic of State: A Study of the Islamic Political Ideas as Reflected in Constituent Assembly".

Lukman Harun, a controversial activist

The man interacts easily with reporters; he knows many of them very well and often calls them to either give information or comment on various religious issues. The former legislator as well as vice chairman of Muhammadiyah, unfailingly ends each sentence with "right, right?", as if to convince his listeners.

Lukman is outspoken and never shies away from talking about controversial issues. When one of his proteges, political scientist Din Syamsuddin, was included in the list of Golkar leading members in 1993 amidst much criticism, he said that it was part of his campaign to give an Islamic nuance to the political arena.

Born in Limapuluh Kota, West Sumatra in 1934, Lukman has become a sore spot for the organization at the present congress. He failed to make into a top position at the 1990 congress in Yogyakarta, but has since strived to return to the leadership board.

He is known for establishing a solidarity committee for Bosnia-Herzegovina and, together with businessman Probosutedjo, raising billions of rupiahs for the Bosnians.

He is secretary-general to the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace and has visited more than 50 countries.

Rusjdi Hamka, a politician and journalist

The son of the late, esteemed ulema Buya (father) Hamka, Rusjdi has recently been appointed by the central executive board of the United Development Party to chair its troubled Jakarta branch.

This position is now the cause of his troubles at the Muhammadiyah congress; participants are questioning his motives and want to exclude him from the race because of his double membership.

"I didn't make the decision myself," he defended himself. "The executive board agreed to my joining the party because they wanted to have Muhammadiyah members everywhere."

He is now the chief editor of Panji Masyarakat Moslem magazine, established by his late father.

Sutrisno Muhdam, a low-profile bureaucrat

Not many people in the congress have seen him without a smile on his face, no matter how hectic his schedule is as the chairman of the congress organizing committee.

Along with Amien Rais, Sutrisno obtained the most votes during the preliminary chairman election on Tuesday. When reporters mobbed and tried to congratulate him, he declined and, still smiling, said "nothing's definite yet".

Born 57 years ago in Jatinom, Klaten, Central Java, Sutrisno is now vice chairman in charge of educational institutions. He manages the more than 13,000 schools and colleges that Muhammadiyah has established.

He first joined Muhammadiyah years ago as a Hizbul Wathan (Boy Scout).