Part 2 of 2: What's taking the PKS so long to make up its mind?

Santi WE Soekanto, Jakarta

Gen. (ret) Wiranto's poor rights record and how supporting him might tarnish the image of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as a pro-reform, anti-corruption party notwithstanding, there are individuals in the PKS leadership of who see him as a new incarnation of Umar bin Khattab.

Umar was one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad, once a deadly enemy but later among the staunchest defenders of Islam after he embraced the faith.

"We should not close the way for people to receive hidayah, the guidance of Allah," one official claimed. Besides, Wiranto is reportedly more amenable to the idea of sharing whatever power he obtains, promising the PKS positions in the administration that would further the party's goals of dakwah (propagation) and combating corruption.

There are criticisms of this view, certainly, including the fact that Umar became a Muslim when Islam was experiencing severe oppression from the Quraish tribe in Mecca. Wiranto approached the PKS after the years of hardship in building an Islamic community and movement in Indonesia were already past.

Wiranto was not there when Muslims across the country were ashamed to declare their religious identity because of the stigma slapped on them by Soeharto's New Order. He was not there when Muslim schoolgirls were expelled for wearing head scarves. He was not there when the teachers, the clerics and activists were oppressed, even jailed, for spreading the teachings of Islam.

"I will burn my membership card if the PKS leaders chose to back Wiranto," said one young, highly-paid professional.

"He's got blood on his hands," said another.

There are individual PKS leaders who see Wiranto as a potential, powerful backer given the rampant mistreatment of Muslims and Islam in the current, U.S.-led world order.

But again, Muslims believe that the protector of the faith is Allah, not rulers or any other human beings.

This is why it is taking the PKS so long to name her bridegroom. Party leaders have opted to wait and see, hinting at a range of possibilities from 1) endorsing a candidate, 2) issuing a set of criteria for the most suitable candidate, and 3) not endorsing anyone and letting the party's supporters consult their own consciences.

The third option has been criticized as "playing it safe", despite being the most logical given the party's decision after the legislative elections to be an "engaged opposition."

The first possibility, endorsing a candidate, is the most risky choice given the ramifications of choosing between Wiranto and Amien. There have been suggestions that the PKS delay endorsing anyone until after the runoff election slated for September, so as to ensure a greater likelihood of backing the winner.

But in politics, timing is of great importance -- if you bide your time too long, you run other, sometimes incalculable, risks.

Such as jeopardizing your supporters' trust and eroding your own strength.

The PKS is a party whose "core cadres" are mostly people who selflessly work for the ummah (Islamic community) and the continuity of dakwah. This may be the only party whose members financed almost all of their campaign activities simply because they believed that it constituted a jihad to spread the teachings of Islam through various means, including a political party.

The PKS is strong because its members scrimp to save money and produce party stickers to be distributed to their neighbors -- who say bismillah before taking part in party activities, and mean it. The PKS is a cohesive, united community because its members believe that their leaders are to be honored, followed and trusted.

This concept (tsiqoh in Arabic) is now being tested to the max. Never before have PKS members experienced a period where they felt the need to question and question again. "Please, have tsiqoh in our leaders, we have entrusted in them our mandate to make the best decisions, they will ask Allah's help to decide," said one member. "But our leaders are fallible human beings ..." counter others. This is a discourse that has never have taken place before today.

"We have been so prepared for losing, for awaiting our time in the sun as the 'party of the future.' Consequently we are now ill-prepared to handle victory," said one official.

The writer, a journalist with Aisyah magazine, can be reached at santi_soekanto2001@yahoo.com.