Jakarta – The government has asked Muslim clerics to avoid actively participating in politics, as it will keep them from serving their followers and will threaten social unity.
After a series of meetings with Muslim leaders in the Central Java town of Pati on Saturday, he was concerned about the fact that many clerics have turned to politics, said State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar.
"Nowadays many clerics have chosen their own political affiliation. This is regrettable as people will find it difficult to find role models and now the clerics have put their political interests above the needs of the people," Syamsir said as quoted by Antara news agency.
However, democracy allows the clerics as individuals to exercise their political rights, he said. "But the clerics' decisions to turn to practical politics should not be a hardship for Muslims and cause the disintegration of Islamic boarding schools," Syamsir said.
During his visit to the town, known as the stronghold of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization with over 35 million members, Syamsir held a tete-a-tete meeting with prominent NU figure Sahal Mahfudz, who chairs the Indonesian Ulema Council. Syamsir also met with local Muslim clerics.
It is well known that Muslim clerics have been involved in politics long before independence in 1945. They founded the NU Party, which finished among the top four in inaugural general elections in 1955.
NU joined the United Development Party (PPP) when the New Order government simplified the political party system in 1972.
In 1984, under then chairman Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, NU decided to quit politics. But it has maintained its influence in politics ever since, as evidenced by the formation of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in 1998 and the election of Gus Dur as the fourth president in 1999.
Of the 38 political parties which have qualified for the 2009 elections, three of them – PPP, PKB and the National Awakening Party – claim to represent the political aspirations of NU.
Muslims at the grassroots level are having difficulties in seeking guidance from their clerics, who have been busy with their political activities, Syamsir said.
"Islamic boarding schools have been reduced to a battle field for various interests. This solemn tradition (of boarding schools) has now been disrupted by political activities." Pati's prominent cleric, Asmuj, who runs Salafiyah Islamic boarding school, agreed with Syamsir.
"Today there are many clerics and ulemas pursuing political interests at the expense of their followers' needs for moral guidance," Asmuj said.