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the president of Indonesia until an contributed to help the Indonesian and they began to have a national The main challenge for Indonesian
election was held. Although he served nation to get through the difficult times consciousness within the framework Muslims in the present political
not too long as president, Habibie is in the transitional phase towards of the Unitary State of the Republic of conditions is no longer about ideology
considered to have greatly contributed to democratic consolidation. Indonesia (NKRI). In the 2004 election, and nationalism, but much more on the
saving Indonesia in the transition period One of the political achievements of the role of Islam in politics was also very ability of Islamic parties to establish
until the democratic elections in 1999. important. Hidayat Nur Wahid, the former a propertrack record. Corruption,
65
the Indonesian Muslims is the success
The transition era towards democracy of Abdurahman Wahid (former NU president of the PKS was elected to for example,is a chronic problem in
was a difficult time and full of challenges. chairman) as a representative of the replace Amien Rais as chairman of the Indonesia and infects almost all political
The freedom of political engagement and Muslims’ strength by occupying the People’s Consultative Assembly. parties, including Islamic parties.
opinion was successfully attained and highest position as the president of the In the 2009 election, eight parties Unfortunately, also Muslim activists were
led not only to encourage wider public Republic of Indonesia in 1999. Similarly, had met the parliamentary threshold caught in corruption cases because of
participation but also had unavoidable the election of Amin Rais (former and they were able to deliver their the high cost of politics in Indonesia.
negative consequences. The freedom chairman of the Muhammadiyah) as the representatives in Senayan. These The cases that hit several members
euphoria that was not balanced with chairman of the People’s Consultative parties were the Democratic Party, from Islamic groups of the House of
political stability and law enforcement Assembly (1999-2004) and Akbar Golkar Party, Indonesian Democratic Representatives had set a bad precedent
had invited a wide range of legal issues, Tanjung (former chairman of the PB Party of Struggle, Prosperous Justice and created the negative image in
conflicts, and disintegration. In this HMI) as chairman of the House of Party, National Mandate Party, United society that also Muslim activists were
transition period, Indonesia not only Representatives (1999-2004)had all Development Party, Great Indonesia’s not free from corruption. In general,
experienced an economic downturn, but given out strong signals that Islam had Movement Party (Gerindra) and Muslims in Indonesia who struggled
also had to face problems with security, become an integral part of Indonesian People’s Conscious Party (Hanura). Two through political channels in both Islamic
social conflicts, a variety of socio-political political life. parties were based on Islamic principle political and nationalist parties and those
disturbances, including the conflicts in Second. The 2004 election was a (PKS and PPP) and two other Muslim- who did so in Islamic mass-organizations
Ambon, Poso, Aceh, and a number of milestone in the process of democratic based parties (PKB and PAN) entered had always been a stabilizing force in
terrorist actions. the nation existence. Their contribution
consolidation in Indonesia. The into coalition with the Democratic Party to push for democratization in Indonesia
Although overshadowed by horizontal strengthening role of civil society had successfully supported Susilo had made Indonesia experience a
conflicts and sectarian violence, backed by Islamic groups marked the Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to become remarkable progress in democracy. The
Muslims managed to confirm their consolidation of Indonesian democracy. President and Boediono as Vice plurality of Muslims and the Indonesian
identity by creating peace in Indonesia. The horizontal conflicts that had arisen President for the 2009-2014 period. SBY 65. Robert W Hefner. “Muslim Democrats and
The concsciousness of the Muslims in the transition period had gradually was elected president for the second Islamist Violence in Post-Soeharto Indonesia,” in
either in political parties or religious began to become settled. Interestingly, time with the support of Islamic parties Robert W. Hefner, ed. Remaking Muslim Politics:
organizations and non-governmental Islamic parties started to progress into and the Muslim-based parties like the Pluralism, Contestation and Democratization
(Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press,
organizations (NGOs) greatly open parties while moving to the center PKS, PAN, PPP and PKB. 2005), pp. 276-280.

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