NU invites former president to speak at ICIS meeting

Jakarta, NU Online
Secretary General of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) KH Hasyim Muzadi said here Monday he had invited former president Megawati Soekarnoputri to speak at a ICIS meeting later this month.

"The ICIS concept was inspired by the need to unite moderate Islam and nationalism. I hope she can present the concept of religious nationalism at the meeting," he said.<<>br />
Speaking to newsmen shortly after meeting with Megawati who is also the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP), Muzadi said he had talked about the ICIS program with her.

Muzadi`s meeting with Megawati itself was closed to journalists. Only photographers were allowed to have a few minutes to take pictures inside the meeting room.

During the meeting which took place at Megawati`s residence, she was accompanied by PDIP secretary general Tjahyo Kumolo.

"We just talked about ICIS matters and nationalism-related issues," he said.

Muzadi said he also informed Megawati about developments in ICIS, which would celebrate its sixth anniversary, because Megawati had contributed to its birth.

The ICIS had so far held international conferences for the third time. "The idea of forming the ICIS originally came from me and former foreign minister Nur Hassan Wirajuda," he said.

The Indonesia`s president at the time was Megawati Soekarnoputri. The formation of ICIS was in fact a follow-up of the president`s recommendation, he said.

At his meeting with Megawati, Muzadi said the ICIS had now become one of the world`s important conferences on moderate Islam. It had even functioned as a means to conduct "second-track diplomacy", he said.

Asked about nationalism-related matters, he said he shared the same concerns as Megawati regarding the weakening of the nationalistic spirit among Indonesians as a nation.

"Many (Indonesians) have become pragmatic and only interested in instant results. They have no idealism. This phenomenon is of course not good. We need to restore the spirit of nationalism," he said.

The last ICIS, organized by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)`s executive board, was held in December 2009.

The 2009 conference was attended by scholars from Iran, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore. (dar)