Said, Hasyim favorite in battle for NU's top post<\/p>\n
KEDIRI, East Java (JP): Said Aqiel Siradj and Hasyim Muzadi
\nremained the two hottest candidates to take the Nadhlatul Ulama
\n(NU) chairmanship in Thursday's scheduled election.<\/p>\n
Another popular contender, Mustofa Bisri, indicated on
\nWednesday that he would reject the nomination. However, some
\nquestion whether his statement is a concession of defeat or a
\ntactic to quietly gain more support.<\/p>\n
Both Said and Hasyim confirmed in separate occasions on
\nWednesday that they were ready to assume the helm, known as
\nTanfidziyah, of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization which
\nclaims a membership of 35 million.<\/p>\n
Both boast the support of senior ulemas and the 306 branches
\nwho will have the right to vote.<\/p>\n
Hasyim's \"success team\" had aggressively campaigned ahead of
\nthe official start of the congress last week. They distributed
\ntwo of Hasyim's latest books Nadhlatul Ulama: Di Tengah Agenda
\nPersoalan Bangsa (Nahdlatul Ulama in the Midst of the Nation's
\nCrisis) and Membangun NU Pasca Gus Dur (Building NU After Gus
\nDur) to delegates in an attempt to woo support.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, however, continues to project a somewhat aloof image,
\nsaying that he really has no ambition for NU's top post and would
\ncontinue his religious education work in East Java, particularly
\nhis pesantren (Islamic boarding school), the Al Hikam Islamic
\nBoarding School in Malang, if defeated.<\/p>\n
Asked about his close relationship with outgoing NU chief
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, Hasyim said that it was not based on
\ncommon visions both shared.<\/p>\n
\"If I am elected to lead NU, I will be as critical of the
\ngovernment as Gus Dur was in the past,\" he said referring to the
\npresident by his popular nickname.<\/p>\n
NU delegations from East and Central Java and areas of West
\nJava, Sumatra and Sulawesi have promised to support Hasyim.<\/p>\n
\"Muzadi has strong leadership qualities and wide horizons, not
\nonly on NU but also on national and international matters,\"
\nMuchtaruddin, chairman of the NU branch in Aceh said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Said Aqiel Siradj's camp also admitted that they
\nhad lobbied intensively.<\/p>\n
\"I am running in the race only after senior ulemas and
\ndelegations asked me to do so and promised to support me,\" he
\nsaid on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
If elected, Said pledged to develop NU and help the government
\nto resolve national problems to make Indonesia more secure and
\npeaceful.<\/p>\n
He denied allegations that his camp had delved into money
\npolitics in an attempt to gain support.<\/p>\n
\"The allegations are baseless because aside from having no
\nmoney, such a practice is against the organization's statute and
\nIslamic teaching,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mustofa, popularly known as Gus Mus, said in a
\npress conference he was incapable of heading the organization.<\/p>\n
\"I may be able to deceive NU's supporters but I will not be
\nable to deceive Allah. It would be better for the congress to
\nelect one of the two candidates because both have real ability to
\nlead the organization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, many ulemas and observers hailed Gus Mus' rejection
\nas a strategy to seek support as an alternative candidate if
\ndelegates are split between the two leading candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Mus cannot reject the leadership if the congress elects
\nhim. It is his strategy to win support from the congress'
\nparticipants,\" Noer Iskandar Al-Barsany, director of the Al-
\nHidayah Islamic Boarding School in Purwokerto, Central Java,
\nsaid.(rms)<\/p>\n
More stories on Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/said-hasyim-favorite-in-battle-for-nus-top-post-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }