Tutut's planned visit irks NU, PKB<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra and Abdul Kholik, The Jakarta Post,
\nSurabaya\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) and Muslim organization
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU) expressed skepticism on Tuesday over the
\nplanned visit by Siti 'Tutut' Hardijanti Rukmana, the eldest
\ndaughter of former president Soeharto, to Islamic boarding
\nschools in East Java.<\/p>\n
PKB East Java chapter deputy chairman Fatorrosjid said Tutut's
\nvisit had worried several ulemas in the province, who believe the
\ntrip would be used for political motives as she had been
\nnominated as presidential candidate by the ultraconservative, New
\nOrder-embracing Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).<\/p>\n
\"The PKB can't ban Tutut from coming to the province, but we
\ndo question her motives,\" Fatorrosjid told The Jakarta Post on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
He said Tutut was planning to visit several boarding schools
\nin East Java, including the influential Salafiyah Syafiiyah
\nIslamic boarding school in Situbondo. He, however, did not say
\nexactly when Tutut would drop in.<\/p>\n
He added that the PKB and NU would \"prepare\" for the visit so
\nthat it would not be used to declare support for certain
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
\"It's OK is she comes here personally. But she better not
\nexpect to meet with NU leaders or any party members,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The PKPB was created by and now chaired by former Army chief
\nGen. (ret) R. Hartono, reportedly at the behest of Soeharto
\nhimself.<\/p>\n
East Java is a stronghold of PKB, the political party
\nestablished by NU leaders.<\/p>\n
On Monday, several ulemas from Islamic boarding schools in
\nEast Java and loosely connected to NU, visited Soeharto at his
\nresidence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, creating speculation that
\nthey could be leaning toward support of Tutut and PKPB.<\/p>\n
However, NU East Java chapter chairman Ali Maschan Moesa said
\nhe thought the ulema's visit could well have been a \"political
\nmission\", while adding that it was not done on the instructions
\nof the NU leadership.<\/p>\n
\"Even though they (the Soeharto-visiting ulemas) are not part
\nof the leadership structure, ethically they should not have
\nvisited Cendana,\" Ali said referring to the name of Soeharto's
\naddress on Jl. Cendana.<\/p>\n
\"If they wanted to see him, why didn't they go long ago. Why
\nnow, just before election campaigning starts?\" he wondered.<\/p>\n
Separately, former NU chairman Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid
\nsaid the ulema visit was meaningless, because they were \"small
\npeanuts\" with very little influence.<\/p>\n
\"They are ulema kacangan (peanuts) who have no followers.
\nDon't bother stressing about it, they just visited (Soeharto),\"
\nGus Dur, who is also a former President, explained after giving a
\nspeech at the International Seminar of Islamic Scholars in
\nJakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tututs-planned-visit-irks-nu-pkb-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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