Targeting An Islamic Base, Amien Rais' Ummat Party Remains Open Hands To Non-Muslims

General Chairman of the Ummat Party Ridho Rahmadi / Instagram

JAKARTA - Amien Rais' Ummat Party emphasized that his party has opened its hands to non-Muslims to join. However, the Ummat Party relies on the basis of Islamic community organizations.

This was emphasized by the General of the Party, Ummat Ridho Rahmadi. Amien Rais' son-in-law emphasized that the party that was just declared was open and ready to embrace all circles. Not only exclusively for Muslim cadres, but also for non-Muslims.

"We are open to not only Muslims," said Ridho Rahmadi.

However, Ridho admitted that based on the results of communication with most of the PICs in the regions, the recruitment of cadres from the base of Islamic community organizations was still a mainstay.

A number of figures who have joined, such as former UN General Chair MS Kaban and Neno Warisman, according to him, have further added to the belief that the party will be able to recruit more cadres in the future.

"Like Mbak Neno, he chaired various organizations where there were party people in it too. I am sure that this could be a consideration to join us," he said.

Ridho also ensured that the Ummat Party gave equal opportunities to all cadres to serve as administrators, even party leaders without prioritizing Amien Rais' family or close friends.

"It has been conveyed in an internal forum, it really doesn't matter. In fact, in the future if there are candidates and there is a moment of replacement (party leadership) if they are considered capable, they are welcome," said Ridho, who was previously active as a lecturer at the UII Informatics Engineering Department.

Towards the 2024 General Election, he continued, the party bearing the tauhid shield logo will still concentrate on completing party registration as a legal entity with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkum HAM).

He targets that the legal process as a new party will be completed in the next 1 month to 2 months.

Golkar wants a Plural-Moderate Ummah Party

The head of the Golkar Party DPP Organization Division, Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, congratulated the Ummat Party, which Amien Rais officially declared.

"Welcome, if this is the right of the citizens, hopefully it will become a new alternative to channel people's aspirations," said Zulfikar Arse to VOI, Friday, April 30.

However, the member of Commission II of the DPR reminded that, as a new party, the Ummat Party must first meet the requirements to participate in general election contestation. In addition to meeting the requirements for representation of 100 percent of the province, 75 percent of districts / cities, and 50 percent of districts and women's representation.

"But it must fulfill the requirements according to the law for election participation, whether old or new parties must follow administrative and factual verification," said Zulfikar.

Although philosophically, a new party such as the Ummat Party is an Islamic party that is present to strengthen the presidential system to build party compatibility, but it wants a moderate party.

"We prefer to have a moderate political party. This means that we prefer that the political party be plural but moderate," said Zulfikar.

"Second, there is an effective force in the DPR, both as a government force and as a balancing force so that checks and balances occur and our democratic life leads to substance," he continued.