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Ilham Habibie tapped to lead think tank his father founded
The national congress of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) elected Ilham Habibie, son of former president BJ Habibie and one of ICMI’s founders, as leader of the Muslim think tank on Tuesday
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he national congress of the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) elected Ilham Habibie, son of former president BJ Habibie and one of ICMI’s founders, as leader of the Muslim think tank on Tuesday.
Five people were elected to the ICMI executive board in a process that began on Monday night and lasted until Tuesday morning.
Ilham had the most votes with 410, followed by Nanat Fatah Natsir, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Priyo Budi Santoso and Sugiharto.
ICMI was established on Dec. 7, 1990, at Brawijaya University in Malang as an organization for Muslim intellectuals.
At its first assembly in Malang, then research and technology minister BJ Habibie was named ICMI’s chair for the period from 1990-1995.
BJ Habibie was reelected as chairman for the 1995-2000 period, but left when he was appointed Soeharto’s vice president.
BJ Habibie was succeeded by Lieutenant Gen. Achmad Tirtosu-diro, one of ICMI’s founders, but Habibie managed to maintain clout in the organization that was once associated with the New Order, and is now seeking to regain its reputation as a group of influential intellectuals.
Ilham is now part of a group of former presidents’ children who followed in their parents’ footsteps.
They include Puan Maharani, an executive at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that was founded by her mother, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Yenny Wahid, who leads the National Awakening Party (PKB) founded by her father Abdurrahman Wahid.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also groomed his son Edhie Baskoro to lead the Democratic Party, which he founded.
Ilham said he would act to ensure the organization would stay politically neutral and free from any political interests, and would instead focus on solving the problems of the nation.
“I have three main targets: to create solid leadership, to make ICMI an effective, efficient and professional organization and to focus on programs that matter most at the grassroots level,” he said.
Ilham said that although he got the most votes, it did not mean he would automatically become ICMI’s head, as he would discuss it with the rest of the board.
His victory was positively welcomed by political observers.
Fachry Ali said with Ilham at the helm, ICMI could focus more on programs at the grassroots level, such as development strategy, poverty reduction and overcoming environmental problems.
He hoped the new executive board lineup could help reform the government’s public policies, Fachry said.
“ICMI has been dominated by politicians, except Azyumardi Azra. I see Ilham as an intellectual, not a politician. I think with Ilham, ICMI can return to its true purpose,” he said.
Political observer Burhanuddin Muhtadi shared a similar opinion, saying Ilham appeared to be committed to continuing such ICMI endeavors as cultural programs, microfinancing projects and developing the middle class of Indonesian Muslims.
“I don’t think Ilham will bring ICMI back into politics. He is a scholar. He has no political experience.
Also, his father BJ Habibie left the political scene more than 10 years ago,” Burhanuddin said.
Burhanuddin said with ICMI’s executive board system, there could never be a member that dominated, as board members provided what others were lacking.
