Anita Rachman – The youth leader of the country's second-largest Islamic organization has called on the group to choose a new chief at the weekend who can instigate changes and reform.

Muhammad Izzul Muslimin, Muhammadiyah youth wing chairman, said that although the current leaders were competent individually, collectively they tended to deliberate too much before making decisions.

"The leaders today are way too vigilant, they are not progressive enough, they're just continuing what they have been doing," he said, referring to his belief that not enough attention was paid to social issues apart from education and health.

The organization today will narrow down the number of hopefuls for the chairmanship from 124 to 39 before its national congress opens on Saturday.

Muhammadiyah, which has an estimated 28 million members, will hold its 46th national caucus from July 3-8. It will discuss the pressing issues facing the organization, as well as elect a new leader.

Selection committee chairman Rosyad Sholeh told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday that about 190 members, including the current general chairman and deputies and leaders from provincial branches, would meet today to narrow down the list of hopefuls.

"All 124 have confirmed their willingness to join the candidacy," Rosyad said. "The tanwir [branches] meeting will be held tomorrow, and by July 2 we will announce 39 candidates who will join the next screening."

Later, an estimated 2,500 members of the congress will trim the list down to the final 13. These 13 will then meet among themselves to choose the chairman to rule the organization for the next five years.

Among the 124 candidates are prominent figures such as incumbent Din Syamsuddin, former Education Minister Malik Fadjar and several sitting Muhammadiyah leaders, including Yunahar Ilyas, who heads its fatwa body.

Izzul said he hoped the future leaders could make changes and take heed of the suggestions from the juniors.

"I don't know who will go to the second round and finally the 13 candidates, but I believe figures like incumbent Din Syamsuddin will get the most votes," he said.

Rosyad also confirmed that Andi Nurpati, the polling commissioner who resigned her position to join the ruling Democratic Party, had been nominated by several branches but they had withdrawn her name because of her decision to join the political party.

"Before being appointed by the Democrat Party, Bu Andi stated her willingness to join the candidacy. But after being appointed, she dropped out," he said.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din has said he has sensed that the government might wish to interfere in the caucus to silence the organization's outspoken criticism of some of its policies.

The chairman said he expected political parties would be interested in securing a slice of the considerable Muhammadiyah vote.

However, Rosyad said that so far he had not seen any indications of interference from the outside. "So far, there have been no signs of that," he said.