No individual interests behind ICMI: Habibie
No individual interests behind ICMI: Habibie
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the powerful Association of
Indonesian Intellectuals (ICMI) B.J. Habibie reiterated last
night that the organization serves the interest of the whole
nation, not just to nurture the ambition of its members.
Habibie said at the opening of ICMI's fourth national working
meeting that ICMI could channel the aspirations of any
individuals or groups.
"ICMI was established for the interest of the Moslem people,
which is also identical with the national interest," said
Habibie, who is also the state minister for research and
technology.
He added that ICMI was based on the state ideology Pancasila,
which has the spirit of Islam, and the 1945 Constitution.
Clearly, ICMI was for all Indonesian people, Habibie said. It
must not become an exclusive organization and should work
together with non-Moslem organizations. ICMI and the Organization
of Christian Intellectuals (PIKI), for instance, have earlier
made a joint statement on how to strengthen the "cultural
resilience" of the nation, according to Habibie.
Habibie also denied that ICMI was established to modernize
Islam. "Islam itself is modern all the time," he said.
People should try to seek the truth in accordance with Koran
and it was through science and technology that people could get
close to the nature and Allah, Habibie said.
The annual three-day workshop is attended by 453 participants,
including 13 from the organization's foreign chapters. The
meeting is to identify the challenges, problems, alternatives and
chances of the development, as well as to get inputs for ICMI's
second national congress, scheduled to take place on Dec.7 this
year.
Among ICMI top executives attending yesterday's opening
ceremony were former State Minister for Population and
Environment Emil Salim, businessman Fadel Muhamad, and prominent
scholar Sutjipto Wirosardjono.
Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro and
former Minister of Religious Affairs Alamsyah Prawiranegara were
also present.
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of
Finance Ma'rie Muhammad and Minister of National Development
Planning/Chairman of National Development Planning Board
Ginandjar Kartasasmita are scheduled to address the meeting
today.(sim)