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.