Taufik seeks Muslims' support for Megawati
Taufik seeks Muslims' support for Megawati
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
President Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas appealed to Muslim
leaders and clerics to join forces with the nationalist group to
help the government overcome the prolonged multi-dimension
crisis.
"As a Muslim nationalist, I appeal to all of you nationalist
Muslims to maintain the national unity. Without brotherhood, it
is difficult for the government to defuse the prolonged political
and economic crises," he said before hundreds of Muslim leaders
and clerics attending the launch of the Indonesian Muslim
Brotherhood Movement (GPMI) here on Friday.
Taufik argued that his wife's cabinet had reflected the
brotherhood of the nationalist and Muslim groups with the
presence of 14 Muslim figures in the cabinet. He said the 14
ministers came from the Indonesian Muslim Students Association
(HMI).
He acknowledged that he grew with the Indonesian Nationalist
Student Movement (GMNI) but no GMNI figures were included in the
cabinet.
"Of Course, Laksamana Sukardi and Kwik Kian Gie sit in the
cabinet but both are not from GMNI. Minister of Forestry Prakoso
is a PDI Perjuangan cadre but he is former chairman of HMI," he
said, adding the 14 Muslim figures excluded the Minister of
Religious Affairs Said Aqil Munawaroh and Vice President Hamzah
Haz.
Taufik attended the ceremony at the invitation of Achmad
Sumargono, the first chairman of GPMI. He along with 20 other
legislators from numerous factions made the trip to the city by
train.
However, he denied that his presence at the meeting aimed to
get Muslim leaders and clerics in the province to support
Megawati's government.
Entering her one-year tenure, Megawati and her administration
have sparked strong criticisms following her failure to uphold
the law and to bring big-time corruptors to court.
Megawati, also chairperson of PDI Perjuangan, has been slammed
for her party's rejection of establishing a special committee at
the House of Representatives to investigate the Rp 40 billion
buloggate scandal allegedly involving House Speaker Akbar
Tandjung.
PDI Perjuangan has also felt uneasy with several recent
meetings of Islam politicians and leaders in preparation for the
2004 general election.
Taufik lauded Sumargono's role to launch the forum, saying it
was very difficult for other organizations to invite such
numerous Muslim leaders and clerics amid the difficult situation.
"I'm really proud of Sumargono who has worked hard to unify a
great number of Muslim leaders and clerics in such a forum," he
said.
Sumargono, popularly known as Gogon, said Taufik was invited
to the meeting because he was friendly and he was ready to make
friends with all people, regardless their religion, political and
ethnic backgrounds.
He said the forum was open for nationalist figures and Muslim
leaders and politicians were ready to develop better
communications with them.
He hoped that GPMI as a newcomer in the national political
scene could play a role to help develop democracy with other mass
organizations.