36 islam, politics and change
reality. However, in contrast to the previous perspective, which proposes
leadership unification, this group suggests that the jt and pks must be
separated organisationally. The jt needs to be formalised as a social
organisation, registered and bound by state regulations. In this manner,
the two organisations – which are in fact composed of the same group of
people – can operate in different arenas, the one social the other political,
and need not interfere with or disturb each other.¹⁷ In other words, pks
politicians can do their pragmatic political jobs without the worry of
being exposed to the scrutiny of jt members.
1.2 Review of the Literature
Researchers and analysts have different attitudes to the internal dynamics
of the pks and Jamaah Tarbiyah. Some deem the current dynamics to be a
sign of the party’s strength and superiority. Such opinions are commonly
held by party functionaries and members. Zulkifliemansyah, a pks Mem-
ber of Parliament, has written several articles in this vein. He eloquently
argues how the party, which evolved from the dakwah movement, seeks
to achieve progressive objectives in democratising Indonesia, without
losing its commitment to moral ideals. Yon Machmudi, an academic
and pks founder, explains that the Jamaah Tarbiyah and pks represent a
new generation of Muslim politicians and social activists. It transcends
the moderate versus radical dichotomy of Muslim political activists
that was typical during the New Order era – the former heavily stress-
ing accommodation, whilst the latter put much weight on purification.
The Tarbiyah community overcomes the dilemma of purification and
accommodation through non-confrontational gradual Islamisation. This
strategy succeeded in attracting followers and sympathisers from both
modernist and traditionalist circles of Indonesian Muslims – something
that Machmudi argues has never happened before.¹⁸
Others argued that the internal dynamics reflect the parties’ hypocrisy.
One widely circulated article of this type is by Sadanand Dhume. In it, he
describes the pks as a radical party actively promoting the Islamisation of
Indonesian politics. Although Dhume sees the pks as a peaceful political
Interview with Abu Ridho, Jakarta.
See Zulkifliemansyah, ‘Overcoming the Fear: pks and the Democratization’,
Jakarta Post5 December 2005. ‘Prospect for the Justice and Prosperous Party
(pks) and Political Islam’, usindo Open Forum, Washington d.c. 8 June 2006.
‘Understanding pks as Living Entity within Indonesia’s Democratic Space’,Jakarta
Post10 August 2007. Yon Machmudi,Partai Keadilan Sejahtera: Wajah Baru
Islam Politik Indonesia(Jakarta: Harakatuna, 2005).