Scholar M. Buchori announces his plan to join PDI

JAKARTA (JP): A renowned Moslem scholar and former government researcher, Dr. Mochtar Buchori, made a surprise maneuver yesterday when he announced his plans to join the minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Buchori was formerly a senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and is currently rector of the Jakarta-based IKIP Muhamadiyah, a Moslem institute for teachers training and education.

Also well-known as a columnist, Buchori holds a position as deputy chairman of PDI's research and development section, which is headed by the prominent economist Kwik Kian Gie.

The 68 year-old Buchori has become one of a few Moslem scholars lining up behind PDI, a nationalist-Christian alliance often prized for its outspokenness.

Political loyalty of most Moslem figures largely goes to the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP) and the ruling organization Golkar.

Buchori, never publicly known as a political activist before, told journalists that he decided to join PDI because he sympathized with the party labeled as an "underdog" in past elections.

"I have also long admired Kwik. One day I met him in a seminar and I asked him if I could lend a hand (in PDI's research and development board) because I know about education. I wanted PDI to think not only about politics, but about education as well," Buchori said.

About his recent decision, he added, "I have retired, I am old already. Before I die, I want to contribute something..."

Spectrum

Buchori said Kwik accepted the offer believing that PDI should widen the spectrum of its membership.

Kwik, who announced the new line-up of PDI's research and development section, said that Buchori would hold the post for five years.

PDI leadership has named Imam Kadri Soeprakto as deputy head of the Supreme Advisory Council, and Roch Basoeki Mangoenpoerojo, a retired Army officer, as the secretary and treasurer of the section.

Under the leadership of the late president Sukarno's eldest daughter Megawati Soekarnoputri, PDI has aggressively tried to lure PPP ulemas into its fold. Her main target is those who were dissatisfied with the recent re-election of PPP's chairman, Ismail Hasan Metareum.

Several PPP ulemas, key members of the largest socio- educational Moslem organization in the country, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), have showed an interest in joining PDI.

PDI plans to invite Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of NU, and Rudini, the former minister of home affairs, to exchange ideas with its party members, Kwik said.(sim)

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