Muhammadiyah youth groups oppose Amien's candidacy
Tiarma Siboro and Ainur R. Sophiaan The Jakarta Post Jakarta/Surabaya
Youth organizations affiliated with Muhammadiyah, have opposed the political stance of the country's second largest Muslim organization which fully endorsed Amien Rais' presidential bid, with a call for all elements of the group to maintain neutrality in the upcoming general elections.
Muhammadiyah Youth Organization, the Association of Muhammadiyah Students and Muhammadiyah's women's youth wing Nasiatul Aisyiyah, which are grouped in the Election Education Network for the People (JPPR), said that they would remain neutral and maintain the same distance with all political parties and presidential candidates.
JPPR coordinator Gunawan Hidayat argued that Muhammadiyah had granted freedom in 1971 for its followers to channel their political aspirations to promote the election principles of democracy, objectivity, trust and transparency.
"All members of Muhammadiyah's youth wings have a prominent role in educating the people on how they can participate in the elections. We are not driving them to vote for a certain political party or politician. Therefore, we have to remain neutral and independent," Gunawan said in a press conference at Muhammadiyah headquarters here on Friday.
"I will allow those who cannot maintain such a stance to resign from JPPR," he immediately added.
Muhammadiyah on Tuesday announced its full support for National Mandate Party Chairman Amien Rais in the first-ever direct presidential election on July 5.
Amien once led the organization before he established the National Mandate Party (PAN) in 1998.
Even though Muhammadiyah Chairman Sjafii Maarif has denied that the organization had intentionally involved itself in politics, critics had earlier urged Muhammadiyah to review its decision, saying the move was a political blunder that could "sacrifice" the organization for political interests.
For the next elections, JPPR has recruited around 142,000 volunteers nationwide to educate people on how they should exercise their political rights.
The group are also working in cooperation with youth organizations affiliated with the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and non-Muslim groups to carry out the voter education program.
Meanwhile in Surabaya, the United Development Party (PPP) criticized NU Chairman Hasyim Muzadi who called on NU members to cast their vote for the National Awakening Party (PKB) in the legislative election, saying such a call could cause conflict among the grass roots.
PPP Deputy Chairman Hafidz Mas'hoem said NU should not be involved in politics in order to maintain its political neutrality.
NU clerics should remain neutral with regards political parties and allow freedom of choice to promote democratic elections among the people, he said.
"NU is not synonymous with the National Awakening Party (PKB) because its members have supported not only the PKB but also other parties," said Hafidz.
Muhammadiyah and NU have been criticized in the past due to their involvement in politics in 1999 general election when the two organizations were led by former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid and Amien Rais respectively.