NU leader Abu Hasan caught in a double bind<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Abu Hasan entered the recent
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress a virtual unknown, emerged as a
\nstrong contender and left as a political hot-potato most NU
\nulemas couldn't get rid of quickly enough.<\/p>\n
His actions have earned him the wrath of NU kyais (scholars).
\nSome of his supporters have deserted him and he's not exactly the
\napple of the government's eye as shown by a few officials' less
\nthan favorable comments.<\/p>\n
However, he should be at least remembered as the first person
\nto break the NU's strong tradition of devotion toward leaders who
\nare descendants of NU founder Hasjim Asj'ari, Abdurrahman Wahid's
\ngrandfather.<\/p>\n
Abu managed to divide the loyalty of NU followers which, for
\nthe previous two terms, had been directed toward Abdurrahman
\nalone.<\/p>\n
The member of the People's Consultative Assembly from the
\nruling Golkar faction was so confident he would win, he invited
\njournalists to his hotel room and handed out his curriculum vitae
\na day before the elections.<\/p>\n
He got 136 votes to Abdurrahman's 157 votes in the preliminary
\nelection process. In the final vote, he allowed Abdurrahman to
\nwin by only a slim margin; he snatched 142 votes, while
\nAbdurrahman won with 174 votes.<\/p>\n
He's not as sore a loser as people have charged.<\/p>\n
Immediately after his defeat, he told the press that
\nAbdurrahman, more popularly known as Gus Dur, was indeed the
\nbetter man.<\/p>\n
He also expressed the hope that Gus Dur would establish an
\nexecutive board which reflected the vote distribution -- meaning
\nhe should get the second top seat.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur excluded Abu Hasan from the board, backing his
\nrejection with the charge that Abu Hasan was involved in a
\nfinancial scandal.<\/p>\n
The businessman retaliated immediately. He threatened to sue
\nGus Dur for slander, and to expose various defects in the
\ncongress, held in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Dec. 1 - 5.<\/p>\n
He went so far as establishing an extra-structural body which
\nnamed him as chairman and put former NU chairman and vice prime
\nminister K.H. Idham Chalid in the advisory council.<\/p>\n
He brought the internal NU conflict to a new height last week.<\/p>\n
He assembled a number of fellow dissenters in one of his large
\nhouses in Jakarta to prepare for a repeat congress. He called the
\nbody the Coordinating Board for the Executives Board of NU
\n(KPPNU) and modeled it on the official executive board.<\/p>\n
Most of the prominent ulemas he named to the body, however,
\nimmediately declared that they didn't have anything to do with
\ntheir appointments.<\/p>\n
Uncertainty<\/p>\n
Many ulemas, who silently resent Gus Dur's high-profile
\npolitical activities but can't risk being associated with Abu
\nHasan, are uncertain.<\/p>\n
One prominent NU kyai (scholar) from the Jakarta chapter
\nembodies this uncertainty perfectly. He showed up to the first
\nmeeting of Abu Hasan's board because his name was on the
\nmembership list. He paced uncertainly in front of Abu Hasan's
\nhouse, cellular telephone in hand, whispered with several
\njournalists, then, having made up his mind, rushed to get away
\nfrom the house.<\/p>\n
Inside, Abu Hasan confidently told reporters that this kyai
\nwould eventually come, that he was delayed in heavy traffic.<\/p>\n
Donors<\/p>\n
For many NU members, who believe that the organization's
\nleadership has been dominated by kyais from Java, the man who was
\nborn in Jambi province represented an alternative leader.<\/p>\n
This explains why he received so many votes, especially from
\nchapters outside Java. He has spread his roots deeply enough
\nwithin the organization.<\/p>\n
He is also very generous to NU. Abu Hasan has always donated
\nlarge amounts for the organization's activities.<\/p>\n
He was an important figure in the congress committee, and was
\nassigned to explain to reporters that the organization will pay
\ngreater attention to social-economic programs.<\/p>\n
This was Abu Hasan's turf. The successful telecommunication
\nbusinessman clearly represented something that many participants
\nbelieved to be practical solution to the problems of poverty
\nfacing many NU supporters in rural areas.<\/p>\n
Abu told reporters that NU should implement professional and
\npractical economic programs in the next five years. "Most NU
\nfollowers live in villages, so the logical programs would be
\nsimple upstream industry, especially agriculture," he explained.
\n"Later on, we can go on toward other industries."<\/p>\n
Abu was sure that the concept would work out fine if NU could
\ncooperate with the government, something which wouldn't be
\ndifficult for person who is more a businessman than an ulema.<\/p>\n
He has yet to show any sign of giving up his concepts in his
\ndefeat. "I love NU," he said when installing the extra-structural
\nbody. "The KPPNU will go on with its economic programs for the
\nsake of improving the welfare of NU followers."<\/p>\n
Born in 1934 in Kerinci, Sungai Penuh, Jambi, Abu Hasan became
\nchairman of Ansor Youth, an organization of students under NU, in
\nthe West Sumatra province during his high-school years. According
\nto Gatra weekly, he went on to study at the University of Gadjah
\nMada in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Upon graduating, he returned to work in Jambi. Between 1958
\nand 1960, he was chosen by Idham Chalid, then vice prime
\nminister, to study abroad and represent the Ansor organization.<\/p>\n
"I will never forget what Pak Idham did for me," he said of
\nthe respected NU scholar who still strongly supports him. "He
\ngave me my opportunities."<\/p>\n
Abu began his studies at the University of Pittsburgh,
\nPennsylvania in 1960, and received a masters degree in public
\nadministration in 1962. He worked for about a year in London, two
\nyears in Hong Kong and then spent some time in various jobs and
\nplaces. He returned home in 1973.<\/p>\n
Abu reportedly has a number of companies involved in various
\nindustries and in cooperation with various overseas projects. His
\nwealth probably contributed to the widespread accusations of his
\nbuying votes.<\/p>\n
He denies the vote buying accusations, challenging his
\nopponents to prove it. So far, nobody has ventured to do so.<\/p>",
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