Ahead of 35th Congress, Nahdliyin Ulama Forum Highlights Mining Concessions and PBNU Autocracy Issues
The Forum Ulama Nahdliyin (FUN) held a halaqah themed ‘Reflection on PBNU Leadership’ at the Darul Ulum University hall in Jombang, East Java, on Wednesday (26/8). The forum, attended by hundreds of kiai who lead pesantren and NU figures, was held one day before the opening of the 35th NU Congress as a form of critique and input for the congress participants.
FUN chairman KH Mujib Qulyubi explained that the halaqah was intended as a moral effort and reflection on internal organisational dynamics that were increasingly unsettling for nahdliyin members. ‘Rois Syuriyah PWNU Gorontalo Province dr KH Burhanudin Umar resigned because he could not bear to see the quarrels among our elites. Hopefully, however small our effort, this Cultural NU will be recorded as part of the struggle,’ said Kiai Mujib in his statement on Wednesday.
KH Anis Maftuhin, caretaker of Wali Salatiga Islamic Boarding School, voiced sharp criticism of the current PBNU leadership, which he considered weak managerially and no longer prioritising the welfare of the ummah. He explicitly demanded that the current leadership not be re-elected. ‘The current leaders are neither strong nor trustworthy, do not elect them again. There are three Ls in PBNU today: fading ulama character, fading tabayun tradition, and fading care for the ummah,’ asserted Kiai Anis.
He also highlighted the congress atmosphere, which he considered full of conditioning and intimidation. According to him, there were worrying dynamics such as the issue of participant quarantine and alleged abductions that damaged the scholarly and democratic traditions within NU.
KH Khariri Makmun, caretaker of Algebra Bogor Islamic Boarding School, highlighted a series of PBNU controversies over the past term, ranging from the corruption case involving former PBNU treasurer Mardani Maming, the freezing of autonomous bodies, to the chaotic issuance of regional management decrees ahead of the congress. Kiai Khariri also criticised the foreign diplomacy policies of PBNU elites, which he considered misguided. ‘There is a big agenda to destroy NU, namely collaboration with Zionists through figures like Holland Taylor and even meeting Netanyahu. Gus Dur once met Yitzhak Rabin, who was still moderate, while Netanyahu is a hardliner who cannot be lobbied,’ Kiai Khariri revealed.
Meanwhile, KH Mustain Syafi’i, caretaker of Madrasatul Quran Islamic Boarding School, criticised the political compromise of NU elites regarding the granting of mining concessions, which risked silencing the organisation’s critical voice on corruption and public welfare. He invited all NU members to perform mass istighfar for the organisation’s future.