UMY gives credit to Amien

UMY gives credit to Amien

YOGYAKARTA: The rector of Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University
(UMY), Khoirudin Bashori, conferred on Saturday the 2002 UMY
Award to People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais for
his role in reforming the Indonesian political system.

Khoirudin said a significant political change had taken place
in the country, as indicated by the amendment of the 1945
Constitution.

"Amending the Constitution, which was seen as impossible in
the past, materialized. And talking about the amendment, we
simply cannot separate the success of the Assembly from Amien's
central role as the speaker," Khoiruddin said.

Khoirudin said there were no political motives behind the
award, but admitted that it might have political implications for
Amien.

Amien, the former chairman of the Muhammadiyah Muslim group
and now the leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN), could
make a presidential bid in 2004.

Also attending the ceremony were Amien's successor at
Muhammadiyah, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, and a number of PAN
executives, including former minister of education Yahya
Muhaimin, former minister of finance Fuad Bawazier and legislator
Alvin Lie. -- JP