MUI leader Hasan dies aged 78

MUI leader Hasan dies aged 78

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council
(MUI) Hasan Basri passed away on Sunday at the age of 78.

He was reportedly suffering from various illnesses, including
diabetes, when he died at his home in South Jakarta at about 1:15
p.m. The funeral is scheduled for Monday at the Tanah Kusir
cemetery in South Jakarta.

Among those who went to pay their respects on Sunday were
Hasan's deputy Ali Yafie, businessman Aburizal Bakri, noted
scholar and former minister of religious affairs Quraisy Sihab,
and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare/Poverty
Eradication Haryono Suyono.

The body was laid out at the home of Minister of Manpower
Fahmi Idris in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta. Fahmi is Hasan's
son-in-law.

The husband of Nurhani, and father of four children was born
in Muara Teweh, Central Kalimantan on August 20, 1920.

Ali described his colleague as "the sort of needed leader" and
one who "most understood" MUI, which he had led for the past 13
years. MUI was first overseen by the late famed scholar and
cleric Buya Hamka.

"He always guided people to take the proper steps because he
understood MUI's existence from the beginning," Ali said, as
quoted by Antara.

MUI is looked upon by Moslems to provide decrees or guidance
regarding religious matters. The latest request was from the
Aisyah women's organization, that MUI release a decree on whether
a president could be female.

Hasan was a teacher from 1941 to 1945 at an Islamic
(Muhammadiyah) school which he and his wife set up in Marabahan,
South Kalimantan.

He was involved in a number of Islamic organizations,
including the Indonesian Moslems Union (1945-1959), the
Indonesian Mosques Association (1953-1998) and the Al-Azhar
Foundation.

In 1968, along with Lukman Harun, Hasan set up the Indonesian
Moslems Party (Parmusi), before retiring from politics two years
later.

Hasan, who was also a member of the House of Representatives
(1950-1960), was appointed MUI's general chairman in 1985.

Legislator Lukman Harun said Hasan was a Moslem leader who was
consistent with the principle of amar ma'ruf nahi mungkar (to
support the good and to fight against the ill).

Lukman, also an executive of the Moslem organization
Muhammadiyah, added that Hasan was accepted by all sides.

"He was a mediator to bridge the interests of the Moslem
community and the government," said Harun, as reported by Antara. (01)