Scholar M. Buchori announces his plan to join PDI
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)
Book -- Page 7