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Jakarta Post

RI in need of 'Muslim leader'

Indonesia needs a Muslim statesman to lead the nation, rather than just political parties, a hard-line Muslim student group said Thursday

Desy Nurhayati (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, August 22, 2008

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RI in need of 'Muslim leader'

Indonesia needs a Muslim statesman to lead the nation, rather than just political parties, a hard-line Muslim student group said Thursday.

Executives from the Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (KAMMI) made their call for a Muslim leader during a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace.

"It is important to have a Muslim statesman as the country's national leader. We will promote this idea not only to the President, but also to anyone willing to offer himself as the future leader," KAMMI chairman Taufiq Amrullah said at a press conference after the meeting.

"The country is in need of a leader who is not just a politician, or the chairman of a political party. We need a statesman who can take on great responsibility for the sake of the country's development."

Taufiq insisted the leadership concept would not offend the constitutional rights of non-Muslims to contest the presidential election.

"Our idea is purely a suggestion. We think all future leader hopefuls will accept this idea because Islam is a rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe)," he said.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has always been led by a Muslim president. Religion is theoretically not an issue in the presidential election, with the Constitution restricting candidates only to native Indonesians.

KAMMI was established by Muslim students from various universities across the country as an alternative group to mushrooming student movements calling for sweeping reforms in 1998.

Presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said Yudhoyono welcomed their viewpoint.

"For the President, having Muslim statesmen is good for the country. Good manners and ethics in politics and statesmanship should be upheld by whoever leads the country," Andi said.

KAMMI dismissed speculation the meeting was related to the presidential election, in which Yudhoyono is seeking a second mandate.

"We are here neither to convey our support for the President nor reject his leadership," Taufiq said.

KAMMI asked Yudhoyono to open the group's national congress in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar on November 14.

The President confirmed his attendance at the congress, Andi said.

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