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Crescent Star Party (PBB) FUI primary activities were to forge Kerjasama Pondok Pesantren Indonesia, the proposal and they threatened to
friendship ties with its supporters, holding BKSPPI), the Islamic Brotherhood walk out of the BKUI if the agency would
The Crescent Star Party (PBB) has a discussions among its supporters and Forum (FUI), The Islamic Association 60
historical relationship with the Masjumi. change into a political party.
It was founded by activists who tried to trying to build mutual understanding (Persis), Islamic Union (SI), the Union of Prior to establishing an Islamic party,
keep up the Masjumi’s glorious symbols. in order to resolve the problems of the Indonesian Muslims (PUI), the Union of Anwar Harjono had approached the PPP
The founding of this party was initiated Muslims. The FUI was led by a presidium Islamic Education (Perti), Al-Irsyad, and to create a single party that could cover
that rotated every six months among
the Indonesian Committee for Islamic
by meetings held by members of the supporting Islamic organizations. The World Solidarity (Komite Indonesia untuk the entire Muslim community, but the
Islamic Brotherhood Forum (Forum session results were usually delivered Solidaritas Dunia Islam, KISDI). BKUI’s PPP did not accept his proposal. Had
Ukhuwwah Islamiyah, FUI) which was to the concerned factions and those membership was more focused on the BKUI wanted to join the PPP, it would
initiated by M. Natsir, K.H. Masykur, K.H. considered having the power to organizations rather than on individuals. have had to go through the membership
Rusli Abdul Wahid, and H.M. Rasyidi, determine national policies. mechanism defined by the organization’s
and was motivated by the incessant The BKUI began to play a role in the Basic Articles. Aware of the difficulties,
Christianization that hit the Muslims in Soeharto’s unexpected fall had rapidly dynamics of Indonesian politics after activists representing the BKUI began
the early period of the New Order era. accelerated Muslim politics’ dynamics. Soeharto’s fall by inviting Muslim youth to think of setting up a separate Islamic
The FUI itself was officially formed on To anticipate changes in national politics organizations to join. There was a great party that could really animate the spirit
August 1, 1989. and to ensure a role for Muslims in the spirit among them to turn the BKUI into of the Crescent Star Families.
post-Soeharto’s leadership, the FUI something like the MIAI which contained
The FUI received was heavily supported responded by offering ideas for Muslim Islamic organizations and was a unifying Finally, a party named the Crescent Star
by many Muslim leaders, especially political roles. They held a meeting vehicle for Muslims in Indonesia. The Party (Partai Bulan Bintang, PBB) was
those of the star-crescent family. Its on May 12, 1998 at Anwar Harjono’s BKUI was expected to play a more declared on July 26, 1998 in the Grand
existence was re-confirmed by the house which resulted in the decision important role, especially by mobilizing Al-Azhar Mosque in Jakarta. Prof. Dr.
large support it got from various Islamic to found the Muslims Coordination cooperation and inviting brotherhood Yusril Ihza Mahendra was appointed
propagation and national Islamic mass- Agency (Badan Kordinasi Umat Islam, among the Muslim organizations and by chairman instead of Amien Rais who
organizations, because of its crucial role BKUI) intended to absorb Muslim representing the Muslims in their struggle had declined the offer. The PBB also
to reunite Muslims and to preserve the aspirations through existing Islamic for a role in politics, the economy, law, participated in the 1999 election, but
Indonesian Muslim’s faith. On December mass-organizations in order to set up an socio-cultural affairs, and in Islamic did not gain encouraging support. In the
11, 1993, the FUI was expanded by Islamic party. Mass-organizations that propagation. Apparently, the desire to 1999 election, the party only managed to
involving several Muslim leaders, such joined the BKUI included the Association establish an Islamic party had become get 1.4% of the votes and it was absent
as Dr. Anwar Harjono, K.H. Latif Muchtar, of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI), irreversible when the BKUI held its in subsequent elections after not having
H.M. C.H. Ibrahim, K.H. Sholeh Iskandar, the Indonesian Islamic Propagation National Congress I on June 1, 1998 passed the electoral and parliamentary
K.H. Nur Ali, Drs. Nurulhuda, Rajab Council (Dewan Da’wah Islamiyah where a proposal was made make the thresholds. The party participated
Ranggasoli, Prof. Ismail Sunny, K.H. Indonesia, DDII), Cooperation Agency of BKUI the forerunner of an Islamic party. again in the 2014 elections but also
Dadun Abdulqahar and H. Nurdin Lubis. Boarding Schools in Indonesia (Badan However, ICMI representatives opposed 60. Zainal Abidin Amir. Peta Islam Politik..., p.63.

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