Cak Imin: Current PBNU Leadership the Most Regressive Yet

Muhaimin Iskandar, also known as Cak Imin, has declared that the current executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) is the most regressive compared to its predecessors. ‘This period’s PBNU is the most backward PBNU compared to the others. This is a concern for all parties, but only Muhaimin dares to speak out,’ he told journalists at the Indonesian Parliament complex on Monday, 22 June 2026. Cak Imin stressed that his criticism stems from his love as an NU cadre, and he does not wish to see the organisation’s management decline. He called for a comprehensive management overhaul within PBNU. ‘Why do I dare to speak? As an NU cadre, I do not want to see a decline in the management of the PBNU. This is my expression of love as a cadre, so that there is a comprehensive management change,’ he said. Cak Imin argued that no specific regulation is needed to purge PBNU of politicians; rather, firmness of stance is required. ‘I am not speaking because I am a politician, no. It is because I am a cadre who wants to take responsibility. Responsibility to make improvements, so one of the formulas is for PBNU to be clean of politicians. NU politicians should just join political parties,’ he stated. Meanwhile, PBNU is finalising preparations for a national conference of religious scholars and a grand conference scheduled to be held at the Al Falah Islamic Boarding School in Kediri, East Java, on 20-21 June 2026.