On transforming the nation into a new society

On transforming the nation into a new society

Leadership succession has been an on-and-off issue in
Indonesian politics. Moeslim Abdurrahman, a political observer
and Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at the University of Illinois
in the United States, discusses the issue linked with political
development among Moslem intellectuals.

Question: Why are we putting too much emphasis on the figures
rather than programs in our discussions concerning the leadership
succession?

Moeslim: That is actually a reflection of the strong demand
for change due to the political situation at the moment, even
though there are more important things such as the establishment
of a new leadership concept and the emergence of leaders who have
broader views in leading the nation. What is the meaning of
succession if there is no situation conducive for the
accommodation of fresher aspirations?

Q: Are there any groups, including the Armed Forces, which have
been trying to formulate programs to be implemented whenever
there is a succession?

M: The Armed Forces is now too preoccupied with efforts to
maintain national stability, which is sometimes making people
scared of discussing the realities. Only a few of its officers
are interested in formulating reform measures, such as how to
cope with the economic crisis and to face the globalization era.

Other groups are also unprepared. None of them have formulated
a new school of thought to face changes in politics and the
economy. The security approach of the Armed Forces has made it
impossible for them to exercise creativity in, for example,
formulating a concept of development with wider public
participation.

Q: Has the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), during its
current general assembly, accommodated public aspirations on the
leadership succession issue?

M: The MPR apparently has anticipated the succession by
formulating rules related to it. But succession does not concern
itself only about rules. We have not discussed the limitation of
a president's term of office, a concept on how to make
Indonesians ready to face the globalization era or the criteria
of leaders who can carry out such a concept.

Q: As a predominantly Moslem country, Indonesia has many Moslem
intellectuals. Do you know any of them who might be trying to
formulate leadership programs for the post-Soeharto era?

M: I don't see any of them trying to help transform Indonesia
into a new society. They are too busy with efforts to make
themselves involved in the legislature or the bureaucracy.

Q: Can Moslem intellectuals like Nurcholish Madjid, Amien Rais
and Abdurrahman Wahid join hands to formulate programs for
national development?

M: They have been doing it, but they seem to be unable to
distance themselves from the interests of their own groups which
hinders them from becoming statesmen with broader nationalistic
views.

Q: What is the most urgent thing to be addressed in the next term
of leadership?

M: We must prepare new social leaders who are open to the ideas
of the younger generation and are able to think beyond the
interests of their own groups. Also, we must recover from the
economic crisis and improve the productivity of our workers.

Q: How can we bring together the views of Moslem intellectuals
with those of other groups, including the Armed Forces?

M: There should be a mechanism of gathering them in forums for
national discourses.

Q: What do you think about the movement of a local leader of the
Moslem-dominated United Development Party (PPP), Moedrick
Sangidoe, to accommodate the supporters of the expelled leader of
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri in
the last general election campaign?

M: Moedrick has shown that among our youth, there are groups
which put national vision beyond their own personal interests. It
indicates the development of pluralism in the country. Moslems,
therefore, need to take initiatives to make their organizations
more open to members of other societies.

Q: What do you think about proposals to make Amien Rais our
future president and PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum vice
president?

M: I see it as a spirit of political reform. Such bravery to
propose an alternative candidate other than the incumbent
president is needed to break the current political gridlock and
to invite others to think of their own future. (riz)