Indonesia: Example of a Democratic Muslim Society
Tuesday, 19 December, 2006 | 12:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Former Malaysian Vice Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that Indonesia is an example of a democratic Muslim country. “I always mention Indonesia if one asks about which democratic muslim country exists,” said Anwar when giving a speech at Al-Azhar University of Indonesia yesterday (12/18).

In fact, should we observe it from the perspective of history, according to Anwar, Indonesia as the largest muslim country began democracy in 1955.

The uninterrupted and free general election has signaled democratization in Indonesia. “As far as I am concerned, the election in Indonesia was better than the one in Malaysia,” he said.

Anwar said that the general election in Malaysia was often followed by ghost voters. “The real voters were deceased. However, their names were on the ballots and they participated in the voting,” said Anwar.

As regards freedom of conveying opinion, Indonesia must also be imitated. “In Malaysia, people are free to speak their minds. But, they will not be free after doing so. On the contrary, people are free before and after they speak here in Indonesia,” he said.

The occurrences in Indonesia, according to Anwar, can be the answers for various declarations that the Western world has made as regards Islam. In the Western state of mind, Islam is an undemocratic and authoritarian religion with unfair and corrupt government.

“Not all of these thoughts are correct. When facing Al Gore, former US vice-president, I said that the largest Muslim country in the world accepts and enforces democracy,' said Anwar. He has placed big hope for the progress of Indonesia and its Muslim community.

Titis Setianingtyas