Page 443 - INDONESIAN ISLAMIC CULTURE IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

statement calling for the acceptance of simply urged the people to give their perhaps also certain political parties, this political party was dominated by the
President Habibie’s mandate. vote, because it was a way to determine which it considered might harm Islam in non-Muslim candidates. In the end,
66
the character of the nation and the Indonesia. the MUI’s advice did not significantly
To justify its recommendation, the MUI
started its argument by citing the Qur’an. society it was also important to elect the The third recommendation was issued boost the vote for Islamic parties. The
It used QS 3: 104 on “commanding the trusted political party – the party that in June, just a few days ahead of the only Islamic party that gained more than
good and prohibiting evil, QS 4: 59 on would be able to lead the nation into election. From its title, “Instructions to 5 percent of the total vote in the 1999
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the obligation to believe in God, the the world of place and prosperity. The Muslims for the 1999 elections”, the election was the PPP (10.7 percent).
first recommendation was very general
Two other parties affiliated with the
Prophet and those in authority (viz. and did not have the explicit objective MUI seemed to be firm in its advice. By Islamic masses despite their acceptation
the government), and QS 8: 46 on the to solicit support for or against any quoting QS 3: 28 on the prohibition for
prohibition to prolong a useless debate. particular political party. the faithful to make friends with or to ask of the Pancasila as their principal basis
In essence, the MUI urged the president for help from those who do not believe, were the PKB (affiliated with the NU,
12.6 percent) and PAN loosely (affiliated
and pro-reform groups to take productive The second recommendation was this recommendation in essence 1) urged with the Muhammadiyah, 7.1 percent).
stepsin relation to the importance of a released in May 1999 and entitled “the Muslims to choose a political party that The winner of the 1999 elections, as
return to religious and moral teachings, recommendation of the MUI leadership would fight for the interests of the people, predicted, was the secular party PDIP
to meetthe people’s basic, especially for the 1999 election”. The contents had the nation and the state. 2) invited (33.7 percent), followed by the Golkar
economic needs andto continue become more specific. The MUI urged Muslims to choose a political party that (22.4 percent). The Golkar, which
political reform through cooperation the people to use their right to vote seriously nominated Muslim candidates. had almost been destroyed as it was
with the Government and the House of and to choose the leaders who would 3) opposed a return of communism, identified with Soeharto’s authoritarian
Representatives. It also stated that the defend the aspirations of all the citizens. authoritarianism, and a secular regime, seems to have benefitted most
MUI fully supportedPresident Habibie’s Then the MUI invited Muslims to favor government and it aimed at discouraging from the MUI’s recommendation. This
leadership. 65 the Islamic brotherhood and Islamic the choice of a political party that had
political parties in order to compete for may be because of the majority of its
Ahead of the June 1999general goodness (fastabiq al-khairat). Lastly, demonstrated that it hated Islam. The candidates were Muslims. After all
elections, the MUI issued three related the recommendation warned Muslims to last call clearly shows the MUI’s call on Golkar was the oldest party, while the
recommendations on the importance of be vigilant against the latent danger of Muslims to choose a political party ready Islamic parties were the new – comers.
taking part in the elections and onthe communism and the Communist Party to fight for the aspirations of the people During the administration of
selection of future leaders. However, of Indonesia. This recommendation and the nation and it instructed Muslims Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), the MUI
the recommendations had different began to reveal the MUI’s intention to not to vote for a non-Muslim leader or also underwent changes especially in
objectives. In April, the first MUI invite Indonesian Muslims to vote for political party dominated by non-Muslim its financial administration and in MUI-
recommendation entitled “the MUI’s Islam-based political parties and invited candidates. government relations. In addition to the
appeal to make the 1999 elections a Islamic parties not to fight one another. The tendency the PDIP, under the
success” urged the public to vote. It In the meantime the MUI called on the leadership of Megawati Sukarnoputri, 66. Ichwan 2005, “Ulama, State and Politics”, p. 56.
67. Ricklefs 2008, Sejarah Indonesia Modern, p.
65. Ichwan 2005, “Ulama, State and Politics”, p. 53. Muslims to be wary of certain groups, might win the election. The MUI saw 710.

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