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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals` Association (ICMI) to give inputs and recommendations on how to improve political life and democracy in Indonesia.

Indonesia`s political life was getting more democratic but was not free from deplorable tendencies of high political cost, Yudhoyono said at his office here on Thursday when receiving ICMI executives.

"On this occasion, I want to ask the ICMI and its extended family to come up with views and recommendations on how we could promote democracy and political life in this country which is getting more democratic," he said.

Yudhoyono said as the head of state and the head of government, he and all elements of the nation had a moral responsibility to make sure that the next generation did not inherit political behavior and unwanted democracy.

Following the reform, the nation enjoyed democracy and the human rights were better protected. The people`s participation increased, the general elections were more democratic, and the press got more freedom, he said.

However, the president expressed his concern that the political life and democracy in Indonesia tended to become costly process as reflected by high political cost spent in every regional head elections in the district, city an provincial levels.

He said that finding ways to address the high cost politics was not only a matter of political moral, but also culture and political ethics.

"According to me, it`s a very basic problem. We should have the courage to take the responsibility and do what we can co. It might not be as easy as we imagine, we should not waste the historical chance if we fail to do that," he said.

The President said he planned to invite ICMI`s executives again in order to hear the recommendations and inputs on how to improve the political life and democracy in Indonesia.

Among those present at the meeting were ICMI Advisory Board Chairman Jimly Asshhiddiqie (concurrently a member of the presidential advisory council), ICMI Expert Board Chairman Ginandjar Kartasasmita (former chairman of the Regional Representatives Council - DPD), and Vice Chairman of ICMI Expert Board Irman Gusman (concurrently chairman of DPD).

Also attending the meeting were Sugiharto (former state enterprises minister), Marwah Daud Ibrahim, Hatta Radjasa (coordinating minister for economic affairs), and ICMI Secretary General Agus Salim Dasuki.

Meanwhile, the head of state was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, National Education Minister M Nuh, and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.
ICMI was founded in 1990 by former Research and Technology Minister B. J. Habibie, who served as Chairman of ICMI for 10 years.
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Editor: Bambang
COPYRIGHT © 2012

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