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