Managing Politics and Islam in Indonesia

232 HABIBIE AND PARTY PLURALISMattended by an estimated 1,500-strong crowd from 30 Islamic organisations.Among its declarations, the congress reinforced a ruling by MUI (issued on 29October) that Indonesia’s future president must be a Muslim male and, therefore,their political rival from the nationalist camp, Megawati, could not legally becomeIndonesia’s next president under Islamic law. The Muslim leaders had sought todraw upon quasi-religious justification as a way of delegitimising her candidacy.The congress was an early example of mounting opposition of a coalition ofIslamic parties and interests (including PPP) in their vehement rejection of thegrowing prospect of Megawati becoming Indonesia’s next president. In a clear signthat Megawati was the most popular candidate, mass rallies in support of PDI-P, heldin Jakarta and other main cities on Java and Bali were beginning to dwarf therallies of other parties. Thus, the congress was an early sign of the closing of ranksbetween the government and its Muslim supporters in reaction to the mountingcalls from students and nationalist politicians for a presidium government toreplace Habibie and in reaction to Megawati’s growing popularity. Republika, 15November 1998; Tempo, 2 November 1998; Antara, 6 November 1998; Kompas, 9November 1998; Tempo, 23 November 1998; Ummat, 16 November 1998.30. Whereas the Trisakti incident had precipitated Suharto’s fall, Habibie’sadministration weathered the mounting challenge to his rule after the Atma Jayashootings, largely because Indonesians anticipated a fundamental change ofpolitical system through general elections.31. Kompas Cybermedia, 3 December 1998; Louise Williams, ‘Jakarta on the “edge ofchaos”,’ The Age, 15 November 1998; Keith B. Richburg, ‘Riots Follow PeacefulJakarta Protest’, Washington Post Foreign Service, 15 November 1998.32. Kompas, 16 November 1998; Ummat, 16 November 1998.33. Republika Online, 7 December 1998; Tempo Interactif, 12 May 1998; TempoInteractif, 7 December 1998.34. Suara Pembaruan Daily, 23 November 1998; Ummat, 23 November 1998; KompasCyber Media, 18 November 1998; Kompas, 27 November 1998.35. ‘Indonesia’s Crisis: Chronic’, p.3.36. ‘Indonesia’s Crisis: Chronic’, p.4.