Closing of the 35th NU Congress: President Prabowo Officially Receives Nahdlatul Ulama Membership Card
President Prabowo Subianto has officially received the membership card (KTA) of Nahdlatul Ulama, known as ‘Kartanu’, from the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU). The presentation took place during the closing ceremony of the 35th NU Congress on Monday (31/8).
According to a live broadcast monitored from Jakarta, President Prabowo received the membership card directly from Kiai Haji Miftahul Akhyar, who was elected as the Rais Am of PBNU for the 2026-2031 term, and K.H. Abdul Hakim Mahfudz, also known as Gus Kikin, who was appointed as the General Chairman of PBNU for the 2026-2031 term.
“It is a great honour for me to be invited for a second time,” said President Prabowo during his closing remarks at the Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Tambakberas, Jombang Regency, East Java.
The presentation of the Kartanu follows a lighthearted remark made by the President during the opening of the Congress last Friday (27/8). At that time, Prabowo mentioned that he had long requested a membership card from Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) and promised to return for the closing ceremony once the card was ready.
“Only Gus Yahya, I have been asking for the NU card for a long time. So, you still owe me, right? If possible, before the closing of the congress. If the closing is on the 31st, is that correct? If there is a membership card, I will come again on the 31st,” Prabowo said at the time with a smile.
President Prabowo departed for East Java on Monday morning with a limited delegation. The presidential aircraft arrived at Juanda International Airport, Sidoarjo, at approximately 09:30 WIB before continuing by land to the congress location in Jombang.
During this working visit, the President was accompanied by several state officials, including the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Nine members of the AHWA reached a consensus to appoint KH Miftachul Akhyar as the Rais Aam of PBNU for the 2026-2031 term during the 35th NU Congress in Jombang.
The newly elected General Chairman of PBNU, KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), aims to finalise the PBNU management structure for 2026-2031 within one month to optimise the organisation’s operations.