Scholars and their choices

Scholars and their choices

The chairman of the second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah, Achmad Sjafii Maarif, has said Muslim scholars must
not enter politics and should maintain their independence.

Speaking at the national coordination meeting of the
Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) in
Semarang, Central Java, recently, Sjafii warned politics was
divisive and could destroy the spirit of brotherhood among the
citizens.

Based on that principle, Muhammadiyah -- as an organization --
will not support any presidential candidate, including Amien
Rais, the organization's former chairman.

Muhammadiyah will only support candidates who are committed to
the reform movement.

The warning by Sjafii is relevant these days, when the main
problem for scholars is power, which strongly relates to
corruption, collusion and nepotistic practices.

The six-year-old reform movement has yet to stop such
practices and to make the rulers of the country responsible and
accountable. Indeed, irregularities have tended to spread during
the reform movement.

Therefore, the 2004 legislative and presidential elections are
likely to be a turning point for the nation to establish public
policies for the sake of the people.

Scholars must prove themselves agents of reform. They must not
support or become part of the existing power structure.

-- Kompas, Jakarta