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Revived Masyumi Party pushes onto crowded stage of Islamic politics
Conservative Islam has seen a recent resurgence in Indonesia’s political landscape, most recently with the reemergence of the born-again Masyumi Party. But moderates and other Islamic politicians were quick to dismiss the influence and aspirations of a minority group in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
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Protesters from various small organizations, including the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), gather in front of the Presidential Palace on June 3, 2016, to protest what they claim to be the revival of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). (JP/Viriya Paramita Singgih)
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o:p>Conservative Islam has seen a recent resurgence in Indonesia’s political landscape, most recently with the reemergence of the Masyumi Party. But moderates and other Islamic politicians were quick to dismiss the influence and aspirations of a minority in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
Masyumi was among the parties participating in Indonesia’s first general election in 1955, but it was dissolved by then-president Sukarno in 1960 because of its alleged affiliation with a West Sumatra-based rebel group, the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia (PRRI).
Sixty years later, a group of Muslims disillusioned by the Joko “Jokowi” Widodo administration announced the party’s revival in a declaration on Saturday, although some argue the new Masyumi is nothing like its predecessor.
The chairman of Masyumi’s preparatory committee, Ahmad Cholil Ridwan, said in a speech following the declaration that this political movement would determine “the fate of the Muslims” going forward.
He expressed disappointment over President Jokowi’s decision to appoint former Indonesian Army general Fachrul Razi as Religious Affairs Minister, a position that had until recently been routinely handed to members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country’s largest Muslim organization, despite NU’s sizeable role in securing the President’s reelection.
“In these kinds of situations, it is important for us to establish an ideological Islamic party,” said Ahmad.
“Insya Allah [God willing], the Masyumi Party will be the only party to support [such aspirations].”
