'I am tired,' NU chief Gus Dur says<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of the country's
\nlargest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said he did not
\nwish to be reelected chairman in November.<\/p>\n
"I am tired. I don't want to be nominated as Nahdlatul Ulama
\nchairman in the next leadership election," Abdurrahman, better
\nknown as Gus Dur, told the media here on Saturday. He has been
\nchairman of the 38 million-strong organization for five 15-year
\nterms, and wields considerable political clout.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who has also been nominated to run for the
\npresidency, said it is not healthy for an organization to be too
\ndependent on one man.<\/p>\n
"Actually, I have wanted to resign as chairman for quite some
\ntime, but then there was no one to replace me. Now the successor
\nis available and therefore I am ready to step down," said
\nAbdurrahman, who is also the founder and presidential candidate
\nof the National Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
The 30th leadership meeting of Nahdlatul Ulama is scheduled to
\ntake place at Lirboyo Islamic boarding school in Kediri, East
\nJava, from Nov. 22 to Nov. 27. Abdurrahman has proposed four
\nprospective candidates to chair the organization.<\/p>\n
The four are Mustofa Bisri, an influential NU leader in
\nRembang, Central Java; Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the East Java
\nNU chapter; noted scholar Said Aqiel Siradj and Fadjrul Falaakh,
\nan NU deputy chairman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman reiterated he would refuse any efforts to
\nrenominate him even if his supporters press him to run again.<\/p>\n
"I would still say no as my renomination is not good for the
\norganization," said Abdurrahman, who successfully led the PKB to
\nthird place in the June polls with 12.61 percent of the vote and
\n51 seats in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is chairman of the Tanfidzyah (executive board),
\nwhile the position of chairman of the Syuriyah (law-making body)
\nis held by Ilyas Ruchiyat.<\/p>\n
"I even would refuse if appointed as rois (chairman) of the
\nSyuriah, as the position requires comprehensive understanding of
\nIslamic laws," Abdurrahman said, adding that he would continue to
\nserve in Nahdlatul Ulama but not as chairman.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also reiterated the organization needs to develop
\nits human resources. "All this time the aspect of human resource
\ndevelopment has been neglected, because NU is busy handling
\nvarious pressures," he said, referring to the organization's
\npolitical role.<\/p>\n
"Now I think it's time for the organization to build better
\nhuman resources, if that's okay with the future chairman,"
\nAbdurrahman said. (har\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-am-tired-nu-chief-gus-dur-says-1447893297",
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