Cak Imin: NU is an Ulama Organisation, Ulama Must Lead It

JAKARTA - PKB General Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar advised that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) should ideally be led by ulama, as NU is an organisation that serves as a home for ulama.

“This is an ulama organisation, right? So, ulama must lead it,” said Muhaimin while attending the halal bihalal event of the Central Board of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement Alumni Association (PB IKA PMII) at Grand Mercure Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sunday night (19/4/2026).

The man familiarly called Cak Imin also admitted to being concerned about the leadership conflicts occurring within NU recently.

“Leadership that is not solid, not productive, this must be a concern for all of us,” said Cak Imin.

He felt called upon as a PMII alumnus to discuss and seek solutions together.

Moreover, as a PMII alumnus, NU is the most noble place for struggle.

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar hopes that PMII alumni and cadres can be more proactive in anticipating changes in the times that demand adjustments in insights, mindset, and actions.

In that way, various decisions can be taken based on careful calculations.

“We can’t be like in the old days anymore, with emotional spontaneity. We must have strategies, calculations, especially with the current geopolitics that is so volatile, right?” said Nasaruddin.

According to him, PMII seniors have the responsibility to create proactive cadres to face the coming era.

“I think that’s the most important thing tonight. NU will become the epicentre of modern Islamic civilisation in the future. Because one of the peculiarities of the Islamic world is that we don’t have a papal system, right?” said Nasaruddin.

According to the plan, the NU Congress 2026 will be held in July 2026 or at the latest in August 2026.

One of the agendas of this five-year event is the election of the NU Central Board General Chairman, currently held by Yahya Cholil Staquf.