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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

KH. Noer Alie: Ulama and development economist

He is KH. Noer Alie, the founder and chairman of Attaqwa (Islamic) Foundation, very famous Islamic scholar in the region (Bekasi), former top member of Masyumi- popular Muslim political party in 1955-1960 and former chairman of Bekasi Regency Government Board (Ind: Dewan Pemerintahan Bekasi) in 1956, who move Bekasi regency capital from Jatinegara to now-Bekasi city.



After Masyumi failed in convincing Soekarno about Islamic States through Konstituante (old term for Parliament) in 1959 (Soekarno was unhappy with Konstituante results which lead to Islamic moderate state-like constitution, declared the parliament as dismissed and issued "Decrit" to return to 1945 Constitution), Noer Alie returned to his own village, in Oejoengmalang (now Ujungharapan), continuing his primary task; teaching Islamic knowledge to his own villager. He never stops bringing education for his people, starting with some pupils who come to his mosque every morning and evening, establish elementary school, secondary and high learning institution; all what he did is educating people about Islam and its teachings.

Ujungharapan by the time Noer Alie retired from politics is a remote village. It can be reached from either Pondok Ungu or Teluk pucung via Bulan-bulan, Bekasi City but no asphalt road contruction were made except Noer Alie himself made initiative to do it, by asking his colleagues to work together. His experience as chairman of of Bekasi Regency Government Board enable him to cope with planning, executing and supervising public projects. It is not surprise that public utilities like roads, canals and government buildings are built under his supervision.

Noer Alie was very concerned with the poeple of his village. His dream of "heavenly village" (kampung syurga) can only be realized if, and if only, they are fully prepared to do so. Therefore they should be empowered in every aspect of their life: religion, economics, education and also politics. But alas, throughout his life, political situation has never been friendly to his stance. Either Soekarno and his communist-backed "revolutionary" or Soeharto and his "development" regime never suit to his own principle: to develop Indonesian people in their two mental capabilities: bright (pinter) and right (bener). He is, instead, on his own firm theory, that if a man is only bright, without holding right principle, he will become culprit, who will always cheat everyone. On the other hand, if man is always bright without having good intellectuals, he will never develop to a better life standard. This principle coincidentally and in modern term developed by Habibie the 3rd president of Indonesia, by his famous jargon, "we need people who has im-tak (iman and taqwa) and iptek (science and technology) to transfrom Indonesia into a developed country.

It is by this principle, Noer Alie chooses to be independent from any other political power, and try to build his own vision on his village. He encourages his people to stand on their own feet, utilize their own potentialities, being self-confident and self--sufficient.

Continued

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