President opens Muhammadiyah meeting in Lampung

Bandar Lampung (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the second day of his two-day working visit in Lampung province opened a meeting of the country`s second largest Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, here on Thursday.

In his address, the president who was accompanied by his wife Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, praised Muhammadiyah`s efforts to help improve the democratic system in Indonesia.

"Let`s us build the principles of morality and ethics in our nation`s life, including the ethics of our democratic and political life," the president said.

He said that there were a lot of temptations in the implementation of democracy in Indonesia, and one which raised serious concern was (certain party`s) effort to justify all means in order to achieve (their) political goals.

"There are a lot of good means that can be used to achieve a goal, including a political objective. Let`s prevent the use of bad means. Black campaigns and money politics are not our choice," the head of state said.

On the occasion, Muhammadiyah General Chairman Din Syamsuddin expressed hope that there would be a proportional and strategic partnership between Muhammadiyah and the government.

He said that Muhammadiyah would always support a government which ran the administration well and correctly.

"Muhammadiyah will not be reluctant to carry out its `amar ma`ruf nahi mungkar` (ordering good deeds and preventing wrong one) mission, to criticize and to correct a mistake done by untrustworthy government," he said.

The Muhammadiyah chairman also called on the organization`s members to take active part in the country`s political activities, including in the legislative, presidential and vice presidential elections.

"I appeal to Muhammadiyah members to exercise their electoral rights well in the coming elections, as a manifestation of their rights and responsibility as citizens who are in need of life improvement," he said.

On the occasion, Muhammadiyah was organizing a second `Tanwir` (regional leadership) meeting to prepare an internal rule for the organization`s executive board leadership election for the 2010-2015 term.