On amending the Constitution
The most crucial point in the proposed amendments to the 1945 Constitution is Article 29, particularly Subarticle 1. According to The Jakarta Post, Aug. 7, 2000, there are three choices for this subarticle: (1) The State shall be based on One, Supreme God (no change), (2) The State shall be based on One, Supreme God, with adherence to Islamic laws obligatory for Muslims, (3) The State shall be based on One, Supreme God, with followers obligated to adhere to their respective religion's teachings.
The first choice is very clear. The second choice prioritizes the position of Islam, while the third choice does not prioritize any religion without removing the content of the second choice, which reminds one of the story about a Muslim leader asking Bung Karno why Islamic laws were not enforced in Indonesia. In response Bung Karno asked the Muslim leader to find 10 Muslim leaders who had the same thoughts on the application of Islamic teachings in state-related activities. If he could find these 10 Muslim leaders, Bung Karno would be the 11th. The Muslim leader could not find 10 Muslim leaders with the same principles.
The Islamic teachings adhered to in Indonesia are not compatible with modern civilization. Islamic studies are still based on textbooks written by Muslim leaders/teachers from the Middle Ages, which still adopt the formal legalistic approach. The knowledge imparted in these textbooks have little bearing with modern scientific works, particularly in economics, physics, chemistry and mathematics, branches of knowledge and sciences which later gave birth to the industrial revolution, with the technological revolution following its wake. Within the traditional Islamic environment, such sciences are categorized as worldly knowledge which will never take one to heaven.
It is true that some of the followers of Muhammadiyah and alumni of the Islamic Students Association (HMI) adhere to the modern school of Islamic teachings, but their supporters are not numerous. Besides Muhammadiyah has suspended the reform of Islamic teachings, while HMI activists are more interested in political matters or trying, along with students active in campus mosques, to be pious by literally understanding the holy verses without making any effort at a more profound search for their significance. They tend to be exclusive and seek uniformity in dress and thought.
If it is the second or the third choice that is picked, it is very likely that there will no longer be any outstanding Muslim sportswomen of the caliber of Yayuk Basuki (tennis player), Elfira Nasution (swimmer) or Verawati (shuttler). Sports clothes are considered as failing to properly cover one's body and are therefore forbidden. All discotheques must be closed down or set on fire by the holy war troops as they are thought to spread immorality. Indonesian women are fit only to become migrant workers in Arabic countries. Although the jobs entail high risks, these migrant women workers can go on haj pilgrimages.
At this juncture, we need not be upset by the criticism that former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew lodged to the effect that some day Indonesia will be left behind by Vietnam and Cambodia in all respects. In the same way, it is understandable why Mahathir Mohammad has been steadfastly opposing the Islamic party PAS and has wiped out the al-Ma'unah sect.
M. IKHSAN
Jakarta