Malang – The General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Central Executive, Din Syamsuddin reminded Muhammadiyah members to not be separated for political elitists or politicians’ interest, especially welcoming 2014 Presidential Election.

“Muhammadiyah had to be strong, not to get carried on,” Din said, in Kajian Ramadhan “Rekonstruksi Masa Depan Berbasis Kejernihan Qalbu,” in Muhammadiyah University of Malang, on Saturday (7/5).

Muhammadiyah, as stated by Din, had to be moral referee, to avoid the fight. However, he thought, the fact for the last three days, not only organizations are separated, this Nation and Islam are split for mere “political desire.”

According to him, approaching Presidential Election on July 9, 2014, especially for the last three days, the political condition of this nation was just too much, there were many social components including organization were split. Furthermore, Din said, he was sure that there were many sides in the presidential election process, which would theoretically only have slight difference, would be riots.

“If it does happen, this nation is in the brink of downfall, moreover the international power is waiting on its own way,” he said, reminding the society. In this event Din also invited all members of Muhammadiyah to participate in the Presidential Election and to go to polling station (Tempat Pemungutan Suara/TPS) on July 9, 2014, and both members and cadres of Muhammadiyah should not be neutral.

However, Din affirmed, choosing a leader we have to think about rationality, integrity, moral, and whether the candidate is religious or not. “If we choose a leader only because of the intrigue, or even monetary incentive, it was unjust and uneducated action,” he said.

Furthermore, Din stated that if we still were not sure of our decision, then prayed and did sholat istikharah before coming to the polling stations, because this was to decide the Nation’s future for the next five years.

“I also disagree if this presidential election is thought as a war, moreover if it came to battle of Badr, because there is no physical war and there has no relation with religious war,” he said. Related to both candidates of president and vice-president, he thought, both have good and bad sides. “I know both candidates, and Muhammadiyah will serve as moral referee, which does not take any side,” as explained by Din Syamsuddin.

Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election on July 9, 2014 was followed by president and vice-president candidates, Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo-M. Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi-JK). (dzar)