INDONESIA ULEMA: MUSLIMS MUST BE A POLICYMAKER

The Chairman of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Din Syamsudin (MINA) — **The Chairman of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Din Syamsudin** (Photo: MINA)

Yogyakarta, 20 Rabi ‘ul Akhir 1436/10 February 2015 (MINA) – The Chairman of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Din Syamsudin asserted, Muslims should be decision makers for the nation’s future.

“Muslims in Indonesia should be able to be decision makers for the nation’s future and should not only be a complementary,” he told Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)’ reporter at Indonesian Muslims Congress (KUII) VI, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (10/2).

According to him, Muslims in any group or party must fight for the interests of Indonesia. “The role of Muslims should not to be reduced especially in facing global era,” said Din Syamsudin.

KUII VI in Yogyakarta is aimed at encouraging all groups of Islamic-based parties to establish a strategic coalition. “Each group of Islamic parties should be able to liquidate their interests just for Islam,” he said.

He explained, for example the impact of economic liberalization that occurred nowadays is very detrimental to the people, especially Muslims. So, the parties on behalf of Islam should be able to come up with the economic development paradigm concept that defends the interests of people.

“The concepts should be able to improve the life of people,” he said.

KUII VI was themed “Strengthening the role of Muslims in political, economic and social culture field for the justice and civilized”. The theme was aimed to evaluate Muslim’s role both internal and external.

KUII VI, was officially opened by the Vice President (VP) of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla on Monday and attended by 700 participants from all over Indonesian regions.

Participants are representatives of Muslims organizations and institutions.

The event was also attended by deputy chairman of People’s Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, Minister of Religion, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Yogyakarta Governor, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and some Muslim scholars.

Some neighboring countries delegates also attended the event including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and others. KUII is going to run until Wednesday (11/2) planned to be closed by the President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). (L/P009/R03/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)