Indonesian youth leader combats imported radicalism
Updated
A senior youth leader in Indonesia's second largest Muslim organisation says one way of addressing Islamic radicalism is to educate Muslim youths on Islam and the holy book, the Koran.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Amika Wardana, head of cadre development in the Jogjakarta chapter of Muhammadiyah
WARDANA: The problem I think is the lack of confidence among Muhammadiyah members, among Muhammadiyah leaders to promote Islam, because mostly, their basic knowledge, their education is not in Islamic studies. They study "generally" like me. And yes, I have the background in Islamic boarding school but it's so little, when they're facing the radical group where they are educated and well trained with Islamic issues and the Islamic controversy. Sometimes it looks like we're not confident. The best one is they use fairly well the media, the radio, the brochure, the leaflet and also the newspaper.
LAM: You have been involved in the youth wing of Muhammadiyah for some time now. What are some of the issues do you think that are confronting Islamic youth in Indonesia?
WARDANA: Well, besides the Islamic radicals there, it's also like marked fundamentalism. It's more cosmopolitan, more glamour life style, from the western, because mostly that is good, this makes it more multi-cultural for us. But it's like us lose our identity as Indonesian, as a Muslim.
LAM: Is one of the challenges then perhaps striking a balance between modern popular culture and retaining Islamic beliefs, that heritage?
WARDANA: Yes that's right, I think for some students, some young people they have a little bit of basic Islamic knowledge with this current problem, like terrorism and something, and they are more radicalised and unified and also maybe involved in the trans-national movement.
LAM: So is one of the ways perhaps through your schools? I understand the Muhammadiyah has built quite a few schools in Indonesia and is that one of the conduits through which you impart progressive Islam to the young people of Indonesia?
WARDANA: Oh yeah, the main problem, the main threat for Muhammadiyah is because the trans-national movement is like use, Muhammadiyah institution particularly in education to promote their ideas.
LAM: Are you saying they're infiltrating?
WARDANA: Yes it's like that.
LAM: Right, so what do you do about that?
WARDANA: The last couple of months the board members have issued like a letter, an official letter to put every staff in the education Muhammadiyah institution to get out if they're non-Muhammadiyah. The Muhammadiyah must promote Muhammadiyah values.
LAM: And what would you say is the defining platform of Muhammadiyah?
WARDANA: It's more moderate yes. We call it Islam BerKemajuan, or we call it...
LAM: Progressive Islam?
WARDANA: Yes, we use with the moderate institution, we apply with modern technology to promote Islam. It's like a love for everybody, everywhere in this world. During the Suharto regime this was very authoritarian and there is no room to make modification or maybe innovation in education. But at this time I think we initiate that so we build a new curriculum about Islam, about Muhammadiyah itself.
LAM: What is Muhammadiyah doing to address youth unemployment? I mean that has been cited as an issue that is directly linked to radicalism. What is Muhammadiyah doing to address issues that are linked to youth unemployment?
WARDANA: Yes that's the big issue. What they do for some economic entrepreneurship training for the Muhammadiyah member, what we call the young people. We've got English training for the Muhammadiyah members, for young people, we make a link with a bank, with the Sharia banking and other financial institutions to finance their entrepreneurship and innovation.
