INDONESIAN MUSLIM CONGRESS

Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the 5th Indonesian Muslim Congress in East Jakarta. The congress is a forum for key organisations and institutions in the world’s most populous Muslim country. Sahal Mahfudh, chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council, which represents Muslim scholars, told the Congress that Muslims had an obligation and responsibility to play a bigger role in directing national development programmes. “Therefore, a synergy is necessary among Muslims in Indonesia, who are very much pluralistic in the aspects of race, language, political affiliation, religious understanding, and strategic choices of efforts,” he said.