Deputy House Speaker Saan Mustopa Inaugurates New Building at Annihayah Islamic Boarding School, Calls on State to Support Santri
Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Saan Mustopa, held a gathering and inaugurated a new building at Annihayah Islamic Boarding School in Rawamerta District, Karawang Regency.
The event was part of a series of Ramadan outreach activities organised by the NasDem Party’s central executive board (DPP). Prior to visiting Karawang, Saan had called at Al-Magfiroh Islamic Boarding School in Bekasi Regency.
“This is the first day of our NasDem DPP Ramadan outreach. This morning we were at Al-Magfiroh Islamic Boarding School in Bekasi Regency, and this afternoon we are at Annihayah in Rawamerta,” Saan said in an interview following the inauguration on Saturday (21/2/2026).
Saan explained that his visits to pesantren carried a significant mission: to strengthen ties and seek blessings from the kyai (Islamic scholars). He described the initiative as a tangible expression of the party’s respect for the pesantren institution.
“Here at Annihayah Islamic Boarding School in Rawamerta, Karawang, with Kyai Tatang. Our purpose in visiting pesantren is, first, to foster fellowship. Second, to seek the prayers, blessings and spiritual grace of the kyai. And third, this represents the party’s respect and appreciation for pesantren,” he said.
The West Java legislator, who currently serves as NasDem’s Deputy General Chairman, further emphasised the vital role of pesantren in the nation’s history and argued that the state should give them greater attention.
“In the current era of globalisation, pesantren are regarded as the primary filter for young people in sifting through the unstoppable flow of information. Pesantren have played an enormously significant role in the context of our national and civic life, and therefore Islamic boarding schools must receive the state’s attention,” Saan said.
From before Indonesia’s independence through to the post-independence era, Saan noted, pesantren and their kyai fought alongside the people to liberate the nation. Today, they continue to fill that independence with education.
“Pesantren are here to provide moral and character education for our children, so they can distinguish and filter which information is fit for consumption and which is not. Therefore, the construction of this building represents NasDem Party’s appreciation for pesantren as an inseparable part of the nation’s history,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of Annihayah Islamic Boarding School in Rawamerta, KH Tatang Syihabuddin, warmly welcomed Saan Mustopa’s visit. He viewed the gift of the building as a genuine act of devotion from a son of the region towards his homeland.
“Praise be to God, this is an extraordinary visit by NasDem Party, led by Kang Saan Mustopa, who happens to be a native son of Karawang,” Tatang said.
Tatang expressed hope that Saan Mustopa’s initiative would serve as an example for other political parties to show greater concern and draw closer to the pesantren community, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
“As the hadith of the Prophet states, the best of rulers are those who visit the ulama to seek prayers and be prayed for. God willing, this outreach will bring blessings, and hopefully NasDem Party will set an example for other parties. Do try conducting your Ramadan outreach at pesantren, because pesantren are always open to whoever comes, for whoever comes is a guest of God and our guest,” he said.
Tatang further expressed deep appreciation for Saan Mustopa’s contribution — the construction of a building named after Saan himself for the use of the santri’s studies.
“Bapak Saan, as a son of the region who now holds a position at the national level, we greatly respect him, especially now that he has donated an entire building to the boarding school. May it be of benefit. It has been named DR H Saan Mustopa, so that the santri may emulate his spirit,” he concluded.