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MUHAMMADIYAH CONGRESS
Return to pro-people roots, experts tell Muhammadiyah
NU Online · Kamis, 1 Juli 2010 | 00:14 WIB
Yogyakarta, NU Online
As Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-largest Islamic organization, approaches the close of its first century, analysts have called on it to ease off criticizing the government and to refocus on people-centric economic development.
Kacung Maridjan, an Islamic political analyst at Airlangga University in Surabaya, told the Jakarta Globe that the group needed to get back to the bread-and-butter issues of social empowerment on which it was founded in 1912. />
The organization will host its 46th national congress from July 3-8 in Yogyakarta, at which time it will discuss the issues affecting it and elect a new chairman to replace cleric and academic Din Syamsuddin.
Din previously ruled out the possibility of Muhammadiyah ever getting out of politics, saying it was compelled to denounce what it saw as the evils of corruption, such as in the Bank Century scandal.
“If, however, we were to mobilize our followers also to speak up on the issue, then that would be full-blown politics,” he said.
Kacung who is also chairman of the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) said Din, though a capable leader, was taking Muhammadiyah from its original focus.
“He’s the cream of the Muhammadiyah crop, but there needs to be greater balance in the future,” he said. “The organization should keep social empowerment programs at its core.”
He said the group’s foray into politics began under the leadership of Amien Rais, the founder and current advisory board chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
“There’s no harm in Muhammadiyah playing its part to influence government policies, because in the end they affect Muhammadiyah members too,” Kacung said. “But as with all else, there needs to be a balance.”
Political observer Azyumardi Azra of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta agreed the group needed to return to its core activities in education and health care, pointing out that its schools and universities had over the years had built good reputations but were now coasting on mediocre quality.
“Some of the better ones have become too expensive for the grassroots for which they were established,” he said.
Azyumardi said Muhammadiyah, a social visionary since its inception, would have to be just as ground-breaking in the future to stay relevant.
“Their strong suit is Islamic philanthropy, alms and empowerment of disadvantaged groups, including helping jobless people,” he said. “While checking the government is an important job, there are already many groups focused on this.”
Azyumardi also suggested re-engaging the grassroots, saying the group would not be able to expand its base otherwise. He said this was the core difference between Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s biggest Islamic organization.
Muhammadiyah youth wing chairman Muhammad Izzul Muslimin told the Globe that the organization was working on several pressing issues, including developing economic empowerment within society.
He said the group would also refocus on education, health and philanthropy.
“We’re putting together a list of things to bring up at the national congress,” Izzul said. “We plan to develop new programs in addition to continuing existing ones.”
Congress organizing committee chairman Zamroni said a renewed focus on economic empowerment would most likely be discussed. “We’ll also take a look at environmental issues.”
Zamroni said the organization would remain critical of government policies it deemed counter to social empowerment. (dar)
As Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-largest Islamic organization, approaches the close of its first century, analysts have called on it to ease off criticizing the government and to refocus on people-centric economic development.
Kacung Maridjan, an Islamic political analyst at Airlangga University in Surabaya, told the Jakarta Globe that the group needed to get back to the bread-and-butter issues of social empowerment on which it was founded in 1912.
The organization will host its 46th national congress from July 3-8 in Yogyakarta, at which time it will discuss the issues affecting it and elect a new chairman to replace cleric and academic Din Syamsuddin.
Din previously ruled out the possibility of Muhammadiyah ever getting out of politics, saying it was compelled to denounce what it saw as the evils of corruption, such as in the Bank Century scandal.
“If, however, we were to mobilize our followers also to speak up on the issue, then that would be full-blown politics,” he said.
Kacung who is also chairman of the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) said Din, though a capable leader, was taking Muhammadiyah from its original focus.
“He’s the cream of the Muhammadiyah crop, but there needs to be greater balance in the future,” he said. “The organization should keep social empowerment programs at its core.”
He said the group’s foray into politics began under the leadership of Amien Rais, the founder and current advisory board chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
“There’s no harm in Muhammadiyah playing its part to influence government policies, because in the end they affect Muhammadiyah members too,” Kacung said. “But as with all else, there needs to be a balance.”
Political observer Azyumardi Azra of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University in Jakarta agreed the group needed to return to its core activities in education and health care, pointing out that its schools and universities had over the years had built good reputations but were now coasting on mediocre quality.
“Some of the better ones have become too expensive for the grassroots for which they were established,” he said.
Azyumardi said Muhammadiyah, a social visionary since its inception, would have to be just as ground-breaking in the future to stay relevant.
“Their strong suit is Islamic philanthropy, alms and empowerment of disadvantaged groups, including helping jobless people,” he said. “While checking the government is an important job, there are already many groups focused on this.”
Azyumardi also suggested re-engaging the grassroots, saying the group would not be able to expand its base otherwise. He said this was the core difference between Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s biggest Islamic organization.
Muhammadiyah youth wing chairman Muhammad Izzul Muslimin told the Globe that the organization was working on several pressing issues, including developing economic empowerment within society.
He said the group would also refocus on education, health and philanthropy.
“We’re putting together a list of things to bring up at the national congress,” Izzul said. “We plan to develop new programs in addition to continuing existing ones.”
Congress organizing committee chairman Zamroni said a renewed focus on economic empowerment would most likely be discussed. “We’ll also take a look at environmental issues.”
Zamroni said the organization would remain critical of government policies it deemed counter to social empowerment. (dar)
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