On amending the Constitution

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