New intellectual group established
New intellectual group established
JAKARTA (JP): Amid the fierce debate over the growing
political influence of intellectual organizations, another
intellectual group was founded in Jakarta this week, albeit with
little fanfare.
The founders of the Association of Young Graduates and
Intellectuals (PSCMI) were quick to state on Thursday that their
motives were totally apolitical.
PSCMI Chairman Andi M. Djabir told reporters that the
organization's chief mission is the promotion of science and
technology and human resources development.
"We are an intellectual organization and our mission is to
improve the quality of human resources in the country amid
fiercer global competition," he said.
The association was founded by the teaching staff of the
Foundation for Indonesian Graduates's Welfare, which runs a
masters in business administration course in cooperation with
Britain's De Montfort University of Leicester.
Djabir will be assisted by three deputies: J.M. Papasi, I.
Sumaryono and Brig. Gen. (retired) Anton Tifaqna; and M. Arsyad
Baso as secretary general.
The organization came into being as the nation anticipates the
next move of the Association of Intellectuals for Pancasila
Development (PCPP), which was established in July and plans to
hold a national meeting in Purwokerto next week.
The PCPP, judging from the support it has received, is widely
seen as a potential rival to the Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI), which has been growing in political
influence under the leadership of B.J. Habibie, the State
Minister of Research and Technology.
All of Indonesia's other intellectual organizations are also
based on religious affiliations, such as the ISKA for Catholics,
the PIKI for Christians, the KCBI for Buddhists and the FCHI for
Hindus.
The PSCMI, according to chairman Djabir, is open to everyone,
even non-university graduates. There is also no age limit,
although the group calls itself an organization of youth
intellectuals.
Djabir explained that PSCMI has already been registered as a
mass organization with the Ministry of Home Affairs and hopes to
soon open chapters and branches in the region.
The group has designed training programs to improve the skills
of university graduates . (rms)