New Masyumi founders establish presidium

New Masyumi founders establish presidium

JAKARTA (JP): The new Masyumi, a newly-established Moslem organization which has announced its intention to turn itself into a political party some day, has established a presidium led by its two leading founders.

Heading the presidium is Ridwan Saidi, while Agus Miftach has been appointed secretary, according to a statement signed by Agus on Saturday.

Masyumi stands for Majelis Syarikat Ummat Muslimin Indonesia. Its acronym is the same as that of a leading Moslem political party of the 1950s, disbanded in 1960, which stood for Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia.

Ridwan, a Moslem politician who changed allegiance from the United Development Party (PPP) to Golkar in the 1980s only to quit the ruling political group later, said on Friday that the new Masyumi aspires to become a political party.

He said his organization hopes to represent Moslems whose interests are not represented by either Golkar, the PPP or the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Agus, in his statement on Saturday, said the rest of the seats in the presidium would be filled by those who have come out in support of the declaration made on Friday, including some of the activists of the old Masyumi. Their names would be announced to the public soon, he added.

Masyumi is also preparing to open branches in the region and hopes to hold its first congress next year.

In conformity with the law, the organization is adopting Pancasila as its ideology, although Islam is its guiding principle. Its symbol will be the crescent and star, the same as that used by the old Masyumi.

The government has not yet reacted to the establishment of the new Masyumi. Under the 1985 law on mass organizations, the group is required to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The establishment of the new Masyumi has stirred controversy, with criticisms coming chiefly from the remnants of the old Masyumi, which was disbanded by former Indonesian president Sukarno because of its association with an armed rebellion.

Anwar Haryono, considered the torchbearer of the old Masyumi, denounced the choice of name by the founders of the new organization, saying that they are confusing the public.

A.M. Fatwa, a prominent Moslem leader, said the new Masyumi is the "most strange" of all the new organizations that have emerged in recent months using abbreviations or acronyms of defunct parties.

"They (the founders of the new Masyumi), cannot articulate their motives," Fatwa said in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.

He said he could not see the point of the new Masyumi. "Moslems already have many institutions," he said.

There was confusion about the inclusion of a number of public figures in the list of "supporters" of the new Masyumi.

Vocal politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, one of the names on the list, said he had not been consulted by the founders but would support any organization that is "anti-establishment."

Environmental activist S. Indro Tjahjono, also on the list, gave a cautious welcome to the new organization, saying that the constitution guarantees freedom of association.

Indro said, however, that his support should not be interpreted as a willingness to be included on the group's executive board.

Another name on the list is that of Abdurrahman Wahid, a prominent and often-controversial Moslem scholar and chairman of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama. Abdurrahman, however, told the Kompas daily from Sydney, Australia, on Saturday that he had never given his "blessing" to the new organization or made any commitment to support it.

Sabam Sirait, a legislator who chairs the New Parkindo, a Christian organization named after a defunct Christian party, defended in general terms the emergence of new organizations in Indonesia, citing article 28 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association and expression.

"I am happy at the establishment of new organizations which are concerned about the condition of our society," Sabam said.

He added that Parkindo is ready to work together with other organizations, including the new Masyumi. (emb/mds/anr)