Religious youth to elect new chair

Religious youth to elect new chair

JAKARTA: The Muhammadiyah Youth Organization is set to elect
its new leader next month with Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad
Syafi'i Ma'arif hoping the election would single out future
statesmen from the country's second largest Muslim organization.

Syafi'i said the upcoming election at the Muhammadiyah youth
wing should produce future leaders with statesman qualities.

"They must have integrity and not become tempted with today's
politics. It isn't easy," he said over the weekend.

He declined to name the candidates who stood the biggest
chance of winning in next month's election. "Candidates with the
right qualities are rare, but we have some."

The election of the youth chairman is seen as means to produce
future leaders within Muhammadiyah. After some 90 years in
existence, Muhammadiyah claims some 30 million members, making it
the country's second largest Muslim organization next to
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) which has about 40 million members.

The election of the youth chairman, will take place from July
7 to July 9 in Yogyakarta with over 100 candidates nationwide
participating, according to the current chairman Imam
Addarugutni.