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

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.