Amien Rais: Coalition of Islamic-based Parties Loses Context
18 April 2014 11:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais expressed his disagreement over a coalition of Islamic-based political parties on Thursday, April 17, 2014. He said that the coalition has lost its context because it was formed in the last decade.
Amien suggested a new form of coalition that can facilitate all state elements, called the Indonesia Raya coalition (Great Indonesia coalition). Amien said coalition should not necessarily be formed by 'green' political parties, referring to the color associated with Islamic-based parties.
Amin explained that the Indonesia Raya coalition can embrace nationalist parties representatively. According to Amien, other state elements, including Christians, Catholics, Hindus and Buddhist should be united in this coalition.
"It is based on the 1945 Constitution," Amien said.
The National Mandate Party's politician said that the Indonesia Raya coalition has to win the battle as the portion of Islamic-based parties' coalition is relatively small, which is 35 percent.
"Never assume that Islamic-based parties can carry the burden by themselves," he added.
WAYAN AGUS PURNOMO