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In leading Ummah, Amien Rais breaks ties with PAN
The announcement of Amien’s Ummah Party marks a continuing trend of infighting among political parties that has led to the formation of new ones, further crowding the political landscape.
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National Mandate Party (PAN) founder Amien Rais (left) talks with party chairman Zulkifli Hasan (right), who is also the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker, during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Indonesia's Reform Era at the MPR building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on May 21. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
F
ormer National Mandate Party (PAN) patron Amien Rais, a staunch critic of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration, has announced the establishment of his new party, the Ummah Party, formalizing a bitter divorce from the political vehicle he cofounded and grew in 1998.
Amien announced the move on YouTube on Thursday, in a move experts see as bringing his new party into clear opposition to the government.
In a slight riff aimed at the Jokowi administration, he said the state was capable of “upholding equitability” and committing “colossal tyranny”.
“It all depends on the ruling government, whether it defends the interests of the people and ummah [Islamic community], or, on the contrary, defends those of conglomerates and the corporatocracy,” he said in a video post.
“Eventually, a community of mankind should strive to uphold justice and fight systemic tyranny through political struggle. God willing, the Ummah Party is determined to work with and struggle alongside other children of the nation [to do this],” Amien added.
Read also: Political parties: From the battle for independence to the battle of the elites
The erstwhile PAN icon went on to affirm his party’s adherence to the principles of the state ideology Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and the universal principles of democracy.
