Muhammadiyah to question Amien over party founding

Muhammadiyah to question Amien over party founding

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of Indonesia's second largest Islamic
organization Muhammadiyah will convene today to question chairman
Amien Rais over his reported plan to resign in order to lead the
National Mandate Party (PAN).

Deputy chairman Syafi'i Ma'arif said in Yogyakarta Thursday
that Amien had always insisted on the separation of Muhammadiyah
from politics, including in PAN whose establishment will be
formally declared tomorrow.

"The plenary meeting (today) will decide what we should do
about Amien's position in the organization," Syafi'i was quoted
by Antara as saying.

Syafi'i, who is also a close friend of Amien, said he was
confident of Amien's loyalty toward the organization. However, if
he decided to lead a political party, he should automatically
relinquish his position in Muhammadiyah.

Amien has several times expressed his intention to resign from
the 28-million-strong organization.

"Amien's activity with PAN is a political experiment that
still needs to be seen whether it will be successful," Syafi'i
said.

Amien, considered among figures who along with students
spearheaded the push for reform earlier this year, has decided to
join forces with senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, political
scientist Mochtar Pabottingi and others in establishing the new
party. (swe)