Umar said that during their discussions he and the vice president were agreed upon a number of things. One matter regarded the MUI’s anti-violence principle. “Violence just leads to more troubles,” Umar said. Megawati, as the Chairwoman of Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP), has demanded that none of her party members commit violence in these tense political times. Umar added that despite its separation from the political arena, the MUI will surely make itself available to any political discourse held to save the nation.
Umar said that the MUI has no set policy regarding the issue of a woman president. “We have yet to discuss the matter. If someone indicates refusal or support, that comes from individuals, not from the MUI as an organization,” Umar said. He added that no amount of discussions would produce a unanimous result anyhow. This issue relates to each individual's standpoint.
Whilst scholars from the Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic organization are to hold a meeting and discuss President Wahid’s leadership during his presidency, Umar said that the MUI has yet to respond. There is a possibility that Wahid's performance as Indonesia's president will be discussed by the MUI’s Islamic ruling (fatwa) commission.
