ID :
23243
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 15:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23243
The shortlink copeid
MUSLIMS ASKED TO HELP IMPROVE IMAGE OF ISLAM-BASED PARTIES
Semarang, Oct 8 (ANTARA) - United Development Party (PPP) chairman Suryadharma Ali has called on Muslims to take part in efforts to improve the image of Islam-based political parties.
"I have never subscribed to the notion that Islam-based political parties are less attractive but it just may be true," Suryadharma Ali said here on Wednesday.
He admitted that the United Development Party itself had yet to articulate Islamic values in the interest of the nation and mankind as a whole.
Citing en example, Suryadharma said there was little appreciation for anti-poverty concepts among Muslim scholars and young Islamic school students.
He said Islam did teach the need to combat poverty but in reality there were a lot of impoverished Muslims in Indonesia, and this showed that Muslims had yet to apply the substantive religious teachings.
"This is why, people find it difficult to differentiate between Muslim-based political parties and the others. They think Muslim and non Muslim parties are the same and therefore it makes Islam-based parties less attractive," he said.
Therefore, he said, Muslims should improve the image of those parties.
"Islamic parties including PPP still have their shortcomings and this fact should not be ignored. If the image of a particular party is not good, we should not abandon it but instead we have to improve it," Suryadharma said.
"I have never subscribed to the notion that Islam-based political parties are less attractive but it just may be true," Suryadharma Ali said here on Wednesday.
He admitted that the United Development Party itself had yet to articulate Islamic values in the interest of the nation and mankind as a whole.
Citing en example, Suryadharma said there was little appreciation for anti-poverty concepts among Muslim scholars and young Islamic school students.
He said Islam did teach the need to combat poverty but in reality there were a lot of impoverished Muslims in Indonesia, and this showed that Muslims had yet to apply the substantive religious teachings.
"This is why, people find it difficult to differentiate between Muslim-based political parties and the others. They think Muslim and non Muslim parties are the same and therefore it makes Islam-based parties less attractive," he said.
Therefore, he said, Muslims should improve the image of those parties.
"Islamic parties including PPP still have their shortcomings and this fact should not be ignored. If the image of a particular party is not good, we should not abandon it but instead we have to improve it," Suryadharma said.
