Gus Dur gathers support to retain NU post<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The chief of Nahdlatul Ulama Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nIndonesia's largest socio-educational organization, has secured
\nenough support to retain the top NU spot.<\/p>\n
The supporters of Gus Dur, as he is popularly known, say that
\nhis leadership style, a blend of intellectual and religious
\noutlooks, is relevant to meet the future challenges facing NU.<\/p>\n
The 34 million member organization will elect its new board of
\nexecutives in its upcoming congress in the West Java town of
\nTasikmalaya, West Java, early next month.<\/p>\n
Matori Abdul Djalil, a senior NU member, said that the socio-
\neducational organization currently has no leader better than Gus
\nDur.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur has successfully made NU the heart and mind of the
\nnation and he still deserves the post,\" Matori told journalists
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Matori, a legislator representing the Moslem-based United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), said Abdurrahman's leadership style and
\nhis vision are still relevant.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure he (Abdurrahman) will be re-elected unless there is
\nexternal intervention,\" said the former PPP secretary general.<\/p>\n
Matori said Abdurrahman has cleverly changed NU from an
\norganization that tends primarily to Moslem interests into one
\nwhich puts the national interests above all.<\/p>\n
Some NU leaders in the provinces have also voiced their
\nsupport for Abdurrahman's re-election. Chief of Central
\nSulawesi's NU chapter, Rajulaeni Lahamado, is one of those.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur is our number one candidate because we like his
\nleadership style,\" he told Antara.<\/p>\n
Perfect<\/p>\n
He said Abdurrahman is the perfect example of a future Moslem
\nleader who meets the criteria of being religious, knowledgeable
\nand in possession of unquestionable nationalistic commitment.<\/p>\n
\"A Moslem figure of his caliber is hard to find,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added, however, that Central Sulawesi has three alternative
\ncandidates that he would field in the congress in case
\nAbdurrahman refuses to run for chairmanship for whatever reason.
\nThey are Khalid Mawardi, Abdu Hasan and Fahmi Saifuddin.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, ulemas from various provinces are split on whether
\nthe congress should review its 1984 policy to withdraw from
\nformal politics and refocus its activities on socio-educational
\nmissions.<\/p>\n
Several senior ulemas interested in pushing the former
\npolitical party back into politics have insisted that the
\ncongress review its policies.<\/p>\n
But others, including Abdurrahman, reject the demand on the
\ngrounds that NU should focus on its socio-educational mission, as
\nits founders intended in 1926. Each member is free to affiliate
\nwith the political party of their choice.<\/p>\n
The West Java NU chapter chairman Dudung Abdul Halim is among
\nthose who oppose the proposal to review the 1984 no-politics
\npolicy. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-gathers-support-to-retain-nu-post-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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