Page 433 - INDONESIAN ISLAMIC CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

even seen to be politically related to government obviated the pilgrimage by asked to interfere in the election of Thus, to control national politics, only
the spread of the idea of Pan-Islamism ship. The Government again became the the PNI leadership. Meanwhile, the three participants, namely Golkar, the
that was feared to arouse Muslim pilgrimage’s direct organizer. The 1980s leadership of Parmusi, one of the Islamic Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI,
resistance to the Dutch East Indies. led to the implementation of exclusive parties, should be put in the hands of which was an merger of the nationalist
36
For this reason, the colonial government pilgrimage packages known as the ONH a person Soeharto could trust. The and Christian parties), and the United
even planned to prohibit Muslims from Plus program. However, the problem Kopkamtib sorted out the candidates of Development Party (PPP, a fusion of
performing the hajj because it might of organizing the pilgrimage persisted the political parties and disqualified 20 the Islamic parties, especially Parmusi
only turn the natives into fanatics. Thus, hence the reissuance of the law on hajj percent they considered the rulers could and the NU) would compete in the next
the Dutch colonial authorities strictly organization by the government as Law not trust. In some regions Muslim leaders general election. At the same time,
supervised there religious activities and no. 17/1999, which was complemented were intimidated to vote for the Golkar, the intimidationof Muslims leaders
installed a special superintendent in the by a revision that resulted in Law no. a situation that had also occurred before in the regions persisted. The regime
Dutch consulates in Jeddah and Cairo. 37 13/2008, which reaffirmed the principles the general election. The 1971 election seemed to think that in the race for state
39
After independence, the administration and the organizers of the implementation was thus like a war between Islamists political leadership Islamic power was
of the pilgrimage was given in the hands of the hajj. and the government’s secular factions. its main rival. Soeharto himself actually
of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, The Indonesian Ulama Council The Golkar emerged as the victor of did not dismiss the potential of the
although in 1950 the private sector was (MUI) the election by gaining 62.8 percent of ulamasand the great powerthey had in
also allowed to be involved through the the total votes (65.6 percent of the total the community. Therefore, he called on
issuance of the Letter of the Minister of As mentioned earlier, in the early days number of parliamentary seats), while some Muslim elites to back him and to
Religious Affairs of the United States of of the New Order, the regime was not the representatives of Islam only the NU support his policies.
the Republic of Indonesia no. 3170. In in favor of Islamic political power. The Party, could collect, 18.7 percent of the Soeharto took the initiative to form an
practice, not the Ministry of Religious disbandment of the biggest Islamic votes. 40
Affairs handled the hajj directly but political party, Indonesian Muslims The distrust of the regime’ to Islamic institution where religious scholars
rather the Hajj Committee. In 1964, Consultative Assembly (Masjumi) under politics became stronger after the New could meet. It was proposed for the
finding solutions to the problem of pilgrim Soekarno, did not necessarily mean that Order government issued its policy to first time during a national conference
transportation was the background for the power of political Islam had been merge political parties in January 1973. in 1970 of the Indonesian Islamic
41
the issuance of Presidential Decree tamed, at least not in the eyes of the New Propagation Center (Pusat Dakwah
no. 122/1964and the establishment of Order government. So ahead of 1971 39. Mochammad Nur Ichwan 2005, “Ulama, Islam Indonesia, PDII) an organization
State and Politics: Majelis Ulama Indonesia after
PT. Arafat in the same year to provide election, Soeharto ordered Ali Murtopo, Suharto”, Islamic Law and Society, vol. 21, no. 1: founded by the Ministry of Religious
shipping for the pilgrims. In 1979, PT. Amir Mahmud, and the chief commander 47; Ricklefs 2008, Sejarah Indonesia Modern, p. Affairs. The proposal not only garner
Arafat was declared bankrupt, so the of the Kopkamtib to ensure that Golkar 616. positive responses, but also led to
40. Ricklefs 2008, Sejarah Indonesia Modern, p.
38
36. Noer 1980, Gerakan Modern Islam. See also would win the election. Murtopo was 617. Indonesian Muslims to wonder if the
Suminto 1985, Politik Islam. 38. M.C. Ricklefs 2008, Sejarah Indonesia Modern 41. Ricklefs 2008, Sejarah Indonesia Modern, h regime’s intent was nothing just another
37. Suminto 1985, Politik Islam. 1200-2008, (Jakarta: Serambi), p. 615-617. 617. strategy to destroy Islamic political

422 Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives Indonesian Islamic Culture in Historical Perspectives 423