Ummat Amien Rais Party Founder: Reforms, Accusations Of Treason, And Things He Didn't Think About

Chairman of the Ummat Party Syuro Council Amien Rais (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Amien Rais officially declared the establishment of a new political party called the Ummat Party. Amien Rais, who is a reformist figure, promises to struggle in upholding justice and fighting against injustice. Who is Amien Rais? What are the thoughts and roles for Indonesia's democracy and political change?

The declaration was made in Yogyakarta, Thursday, April 29 or 17 Ramadan 1442 Hijriah, with Amien accompanied by the ranks of the Ummat Party. "Bismillahirahmanirahim, I declare the birth of the Ummat Party in the Indonesian Mother Earth, which we all love together," said Amien Rais.

"We dedicate all our prayers, all our worship, our lives. We offer it only to Allah, the Lord of the worlds ... We believe that all of our democratic mechanisms and our constitution are more than sufficient to make improvements in national life so we don't need a way. - extra-parliamentary ways and extra-constitutional ways. "

There is something interesting between Amien and democracy. He was at the forefront when the reform movement reached its peak in 1998. At that time Amien Rais was the chairman of PP Muhammadiyah. He was elected to the Muhammadiyah congress in Banda Aceh in 1995. Amien garnered 98 percent of the votes. Successful even though the Palace does not approve.

Capture the AP News screen (Source: YouTube)

Amien has been critical for a long time. Even when he was close to the circle of power. At that time Amien was part of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) under the leadership of BJ Habibie.

But it didn't last. Amien was urged to leave for revealing a number of government corruption, ranging from nepotism to the elite's greed to control the Busang gold mine, which in fact was a lie.

Student demonstrations throughout 1998 became a series of momentum that continued to corner Soeharto from his position. Amien was there in those days. Monday, 18 May 1998, when the demonstrators had occupied the DPR / MPR building, Amien planned to take them to the National Monument (Monas) field to celebrate National Awakening Day.

Amien's plan was prevented by Pangkostrad Prabowo Subianto and Yusril Ihza Mahendra. The military is said to have been prepared for the harsh measures of the day. They did not hesitate if Suharto's rule was disturbed. Yes, at that time it was reported that there were around 150 thousand soldiers on alert in the Central Jakarta area.

Amien heard the warning. Plan canceled. The point of concentration for the masses remains in the DPR / MPR Building. A number of figures were also there at that time, namely AM Fatwa, Emil Salim, to Adnan Buyung Nasution. Amien was then picked up from the Al Azhar Mosque, Jakarta. Arriving at the parliament compound, hundreds of students greeted Amien with cheers.

On Thursday, 21 May 1998, Suharto resigned. The series of events for Soeharto's ouster raised Amien's name as "Father of Reform".

Criticism of the treachery of reform

That is the name Amien during the reformation period. However, in the moments following the reformation, Amien has come under fire for criticism. He is even called a traitor to reforms. At that time Amien succeeded in bringing the National Mandate Party (PAN), which he founded, to the top five in the 1999 Legislative Election. Amien was then elected as Chairman of the MPR for the 1999 to 2004 period.

In the period of Amien's leadership in the MPR, there were four amendments to the 1945 Constitution. It was these amendments that cornered Amien's name. A number of 98 activists, such as Faisal Assegaf and Sri Bintang Pamungkas, even said that Amien's reform spirit had faded.

Amien Rais (Source: PAN.or.id)

Not without reason. The four amendments in Amien's period led to a number of changes. Among them, the direct election of the president and the openness of the economic system. Amien once answered this matter. He admitted that he did not think about the nicknames he had pinned, whether good or bad.

Amien said he worked for God's teachings. "It's up to you. So I never wanted to be like that at all because I work not for humans," said Amien, quoted from CNN, Friday, April 30.

"I was said to be a jerk, mocked, cheated, I just laughed. If you like it, Alhamdulillah. I don't like it, it's okay," added Amien.

Called Sengkuni

In the 2019 Election, Amien's figure was highlighted due to various controversies. One of them was a statement by Amien who called July 9 - the date the election was held - as "Political Western Youth."

Baratayuda is a major war in the Kurusetra Field between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Amien was criticized for his analogy.

"July 9 is a kind of political Westerner. It's scary. Here but maybe it's small. But my brothers, we have to be unanimous and don't hesitate," said Amien, in a tausyiah at the Al Azhar Mosque, quoted by Merdeka.

Amien Rais (Source: Antara)

Even so, Amien did not specify which side he analogized as the Pandavas and the Kauravas. These puppet analogies continue.

Amien was later referred to as a figure of Sengkuni in Indonesian politics. In fact, the Yogyakarta Tradition Community Association (Pametri) held a gathering of Amien in front of his house in Sawit Sari, Condongcatur, Sleman, Yogyakarta.

Mbah Sukir, a figure leading the ceremony to recite Javanese prayers and light incense. He prayed that Sengkuni's character would be separated from Amien. Sengkuni is a character in the Mahabharata epic who has a cunning nature. It was Sengkunilah who incited the Kauravas to become hostile to the Pandavas.

"Hopefully Mr Amien Rais will be released from Sandikolo and clean again. Hopefully this nation will be spared from disasters and all the bad things. Hopefully the Indonesian people can prosper."

Internal PAN itself once mentioned Amien as Sengkuni. At that time, Hanafi Rais' resignation from PAN was a signal that a new party would be established. Deputy General Treasurer of the DPP PAN, Rizki Aljupri, criticized the establishment of a new party and its initiators.

"Looking at the mapping of individuals who say they will join the new party formed by Amien Rais, DPP PAN sees this as nothing more than a group of people who cannot accept defeat because their champion lost in the PAN Congress in Kendari," said Rizky.

"We are actually grateful, because now PAN can be separated from people who have the character of Sengkuni," said Rizki.

Now Amien Rais has stood with his new party, the Ummat Party. In the declaration, the party chaired by Amin Rais' son-in-law, Ridho Rahmadi, also announced the board members of the Syuro Council and the Central Executive Board (DPP).

Management of the Ummah Party

Amien Rais in the Ummat Party Declaration (Source: Special)

Ummat Party Syuro Assembly

Chairman of the Syuro Council: Amien Rais

Deputy Chairman 1: MS Kaban

Deputy Chairman 2: Thalib Sagaf Aldjufri

Secretary: Ansufri Idrus Sambo

DPP Ummat Party

General Chairman: Ridho Rahmadi

Secretary General: Ahmad Muhadjir Sodrudin

General Bendaraha: Benny Suharto

Deputy Chairman 1: Agung Mozin

Deputy Chairman 2: Sugeng

Deputy Chairman 3: Chandra Tirta Wijaya.

* Read other information about UMMAT PARTIES or read other interesting writings from Nailin In Saroh and Yudhistira Mahabharata.

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