Observer: Amien Rais Can Be Politically Equal To Gus Dur, But Gus Dur Is Wiser

JAKARTA - There is an opinion that Amien Rais is in the same position as Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur. Amien is the founder of the Ummat Party and a Muhammadiyah figure, while Gus Dur is the founder of PKB and a leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Responding to this, a political observer from the Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah, thought that Amien Rais could be on par with Gus Dur. With a note, this is seen from a political perspective.

"Politically, it can be said to be equal. Apart from parties, Amien Rais has a heroic record from activists to the chairman of the MPR, as does Gusdur, who is also the President of the Republic of Indonesia," said Dedi to VOI, Saturday, May 1.

However, that does not mean it has total equality. Dedi considered Amien Rais and Gus Dur to have different spaces of dedication and character.

Dedi considered that Gus Dur was still wiser than Amien Rais in his attitude. For example, Gus Dur chose to leave the party during polemic.

Meanwhile, Amien Rais is still looking for other ways when he is polemic with his old party, PAN. Then, Amien founded a new party, the Ummat Party.

"Gus Dur is still wiser for now when compared to Amien Rais, where during the turmoil with PKB, he chose to remain silent and leave political affairs to his generation," said Dedi.

"Amien Rais should not have to intervene in practical politics. In fact, he has not even ended his political career and entrusted himself to the younger generation," he continued.

Previously, political observer from Al Azhar Indonesia University Andriadi Achmad analogized Amien Rais as Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, who was identified as synonymous with Indonesia's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

"So I don't think Amien Rais is bad. He (Amien, red) is in the same class as Gus Dur. That is, he is a Muhammadiyah figure, Gus Dur NU, whose fanatical masses are still there," said Andriadi.

The daughter of RI-4 President Abdurrahman Wahid, Yenny Wahid, did not want to comment on the character of the Chairperson of the Ummat Amien Rais Council of the Syuro Council, who is considered a classmate of Gus Dur.

However, according to him, the public certainly knows which figures are truly considered role models.

"No comment on this issue. The public better understands which figures are more trustworthy," said Yenny Wahid spokesman Imron Rosyadi Hamid to VOI.