The 'new' Masyumi

The 'new' Masyumi

From the very beginning, when the two Moslem activists, Ridwan
Saidi and Agus Miftach, declared their intention last month to
establish a new organization called Majelis Syariat Ummat
Muslimin Indonesia (Masyumi), the responses were mostly negative.
In the first place, their decision to use the acronym Masyumi is
considered a bad idea.

Practically all former leaders of the now defunct Moslem
political party Masyumi (Majelis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia),
including its spokesman Anwar Harjono, criticized Ridwan's plan.
Apparently, they were angered by Ridwan and Agus' choice of name
and acronym, which they feared would confuse the public. They
feared that people would think the "new" Masyumi had links with
the "old" Masyumi. It is obvious that they were smelling a rat
behind Ridwan's plan to manipulate an old battle cry.

Now that the "new" Masyumi has actually been established,
other Moslem leaders also have denounced the organization. The
chairman of Muhammadiyah, Amien Rais, even went as far as
predicting that the new organization won't last for six months
and "will disappear like the wind". Noted Moslem scholar
Nurcholish Madjid dismissed as groundless Ridwan Saidi's claim
that the new organization was established because Moslems are not
represented in Indonesian politics. In Nurcholish's view, Moslems
already enjoy a political representation in various institutions.

Several reasons may be cited as to why Ridwan Saidi's and Agus
Miftach's plans have been met with such strong resistance. First,
they have no legitimate claim as former Masyumi members. They
differ from Mrs. Supeni and Usep Ranuwidjaja, whose plan to
establish Persatuan Nasional Indonesia, or the "new" PNI, was
welcomed since they are known as former leaders of the "old" PNI
(Partai Nasional Indonesia). So, too, with Sabam Sirait, who was
not opposed when he established the Partisipasi Kristen
Indonesia, or the "new" Parkindo, because he actually was a
leader of the now defunct Parkindo (Partai Kristen Indonesia).

Second, in political circles Ridwan and Agus are perceived by
many as low-rate politicians. Ridwan's main weakness is his
repeated change of allegiances. A former chairman of the Moslem
student association (HMI), he was recruited as a campaigner for
the United Development Party (PPP) in the 1970s, but later joined
Golkar as a card carrying member. And Agus Miftach is well-known
for his political maneuvers toward "taking over" the leadership
of NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) in the 1980s.

Ridwan Saidi's claim that several Moslems leaders support his
"new" Masyumi has also backfired as, one by one, those leaders --
including NU chairman Abdurrachman Wahid -- have denied their
involvement. Ridwan also sparked anger from the government when
he claimed that the "new" Masyumi is planning to become a
political party, which is illegal under current laws.

What is interesting is that most of the opposition to the
"new" Masyumi has come from Moslems. It is understandable if most
Moslem leaders, who now enjoy newly-found good relations with the
government, don't want "intruders" like Ridwan and Agus to
disrupt the situation. To some extent, some may also worry that
Ridwan's "new" Masyumi may harm the "old" Masyumi's reputation,
or even close the door to the chance -- supposing there could be
one -- for the rehabilitation or revival of the "old" Masyumi.

In short, Ridwan Saidi's and Agus Miftach's "new" Masyumi can
be expected to have a very short life. Instead of moving with the
current trend of establishing new organizations, they have set
their sails against the wind due to miscalculations and faulty
strategy.

Ridwan's and Agus' plan is clearly doomed unless they can come
up with some solid evidence that certain segments of the Moslem
community are really not represented in the current system. To do
so, they could try to recruit people like Sri Bintang Pamungkas,
people who are dissatisfied with the present situation, thus
drawing some "angry young men" into their stronghold.

But if they are not tactful, they may see themselves fall
deeper into the pit of failure. And if this happens, their
political careers may also "disappear like the wind".