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.