Saifullah Yusuf, known as Gus Ipul, chairman of the 35th NU Congress\norganising committee and secretary general of PBNU, said there are at\nleast two issues that could potentially spark quite dynamic debate. The\ntwo issues are the election system for the PBNU chairman and provisions\nregarding concurrent positions among board members.<\/p>\n
\u2018Alhamdulillah, today the first plenary session began to discuss the\nCongress rules of procedure. We are following its development. After\nthat, there will be an accountability report, followed by commission\nsessions,\u2019 he said in a written statement on Friday (28\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to Gus Ipul, discussions at the commission level are likely\nto take time. A number of materials within them had previously been\ndiscussed at the National Conference of Religious Scholars and the\nNahdlatul Ulama Grand Conference (Munas-Konbes NU).<\/p>\n
One of them concerns the mechanism for electing the PBNU chairman. In\nthe materials brought to the Congress, there is an option to maintain\nthe mechanism that has been in use so far as well as an idea for a new\nmechanism.<\/p>\n
Under the mechanism used so far, prospective candidates who obtain a\ncertain amount of support can proceed to the nomination stage by\nfulfilling the applicable provisions. These provisions include obtaining\nthe approval of the Rais Aam.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, there is also a proposal for another mechanism. In that\noption, each regional and branch board, as vote holders, proposes five\nnames, and the names with the most support are then processed according\nto the mechanism determined by the Congress.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is an option. Of course, everything depends on the Congress\ndecision,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the chairman election system, the Congress will also\ndiscuss rules on concurrent positions within the NU leadership.\nAccording to him, one of the questions to be discussed is whether the\nprohibition on concurrent positions applies only to certain positions as\nper current provisions, or is extended to other board members.<\/p>\n
\u2018There are proposals, there are dynamics. Of course, everything will\ndepend on the congress participants. These are still aspirations\npreviously discussed at the Munas-Konbes level,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that all draft materials brought to the Congress have\ngone through a tiered discussion process. The materials are not\nsomething that emerged suddenly ahead of the Congress.<\/p>\n
\u2018The existing draft materials went through a process. Some were\ndiscussed at PBNU, then at Munas-Konbes, and after that brought to the\nCongress. Later they will be discussed in commissions, especially the\nOrganisation Commission. It will certainly be interesting,\u2019 explained\nGus Ipul.<\/p>\n
Although he expects debate to occur, Gus Ipul said differences of\nopinion are normal in the Nahdlatul Ulama tradition.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are accustomed to differences, we are accustomed to debating,\u2019 he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, he reminded that all these dynamics should continue to take\nplace in an atmosphere of brotherhood and joy, in line with the spirit\nof the 35th NU Congress.<\/p>\n
\u2018As we all hope, especially Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School,\nwhatever happens, however sharp the differences, we must remain joyful,\u2019\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Gus Ipul reminded that this Congress is taking place within a\npesantren environment that has a very strong historical bond with the\nfounders of NU. Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School is a pesantren\nnurtured by one of the founders and main driving forces of NU, KH Abdul\nWahab Hasbullah.<\/p>\n
Not far from the Congress venue are also the graves of KH Hasyim\nAsy\u2019ari and KH Bisri Syansuri.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are in the embrace of the founders, at the pesantren of Mbah\nWahab Hasbullah. Hopefully this will be a source of encouragement,\ninspiration and motivation for Congress participants,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
He expressed hope that the debates taking place during the Congress\nwould ultimately produce the best decisions for the future of Nahdlatul\nUlama.<\/p>\n
\u2018So after we debate, we remain in a joyful atmosphere. From that joy,\nhopefully blessings will come. In the end, we can all say:\nAlhamdulillah,\u2019 he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-ipul-says-two-issues-could-spark-debate-at-nu-congress-1787907184", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }