Muslim allowed to take donations from politicans

Muslim allowed to take donations from politicans

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif asked on Wednesday
Islamic boarding schools across the country to respond wisely to
the intensifying visits of politicians ahead of the elections.

He said boarding school officials should clearly explain the
meaning of these visits and provide political education to their
students instead of offering concessions to the politicians.

"Muslim leaders should teach their followers how to deal with
the politicians. They have to remain critical of political visits
and ask their students to follow suit," Syafii said on the
sidelines of a ceremony marking the handover of a Japanese
government donation to Muhamamdiyah for a humanitarian mission in
Aceh.

Syafii acknowledged that political visits were common ahead of
an election due to the prominent status of Muslim leaders who
could influence their followers.

"Muslim leaders can accept donations, but never make promises
of political support in return," he remarked.

Muslims account for around 90 percent of Indonesia's 215
million population.

Muhammadiyah is the second largest Muslim organization in the
country, claiming 30 million followers and running thousands of
boarding schools across the country.

The country's politicians have moved to lure support from
Muslim leaders across the country ahead of the general election
scheduled for April 5.

On Wednesday, Vice President Hamzah Haz, who also chairs the
United Development Party (PPP), visited a boarding school in
Lirboyo, East Java, to inaugurate a health clinic at the school.

National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais also visited
a boarding school in North Sumatra and addressed a gathering of
500 preachers.

Late on Tuesday, former president and leader of Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) Abdurrahman Wahid escorted Wiranto, a presidential
hopeful from the Golkar Party, who visited a boarding school in
Wonosobo, Central Java.

It was the second time within less than two weeks that Wiranto
met Abdurrahman, who as president in 2001 dismissed Wiranto as a
senior minister.

Golkar Party leader Akbar Tandjung, who was acquitted of graft
charges by the Supreme Court, visited the same boarding school
earlier on Tuesday.

Just half an hour prior to Akbar's visit, the eldest daughter
of former president Soeharto, Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana,
also visited the same boarding school.

Tutut has been named a presidential candidate by the Concern
for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) and has just settled her
state debts.

On Wednesday, Tutut met a group of Muslim clerics at the house
of businessman Probosutedjo, the half brother of Soeharto. During
the meeting the clerics expressed support for Tutut's
presidential bid.

Most of the boarding schools visited by politicians belong to
the NU, the largest Muslim organization in the country with 40
million followers.