Gus Dur's uncle lashes out at Gold Quest
Gus Dur's uncle lashes out at Gold Quest
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's uncle has filed a
complaint with the National Police against Gold Quest
International over its plan to produce gold coins bearing the
image of his father, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) founder Hasyim Asy'ari.
"As the son of the late Hasyim Asy'ari, I have appointed
lawyers to take this case to the National Police chief," Yusuf
Hasyim was quoted by Antara as saying in Surabaya, East Java, on
Saturday.
He said his family held a meeting on Oct. 11 and decided to
fight the issuance of the gold coins by the Jakarta-based
company.
Yusuf is the brother of Gus Dur's father, Wahid Hasyim, and
chairs the Tebuireng Islamic boarding school in Jombang, East
Java, which was founded by their family.
"I was surprised by the circulation of invitations to attend
the launch of the gold coins bearing the image of KH Hasyim
Asy'ari at the JW Marriott, while Gold Quest never talked to us
or asked for our permission," Yusuf said.
However, he said the East Java chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama, the
nation's largest Muslim organization, received information that
Gold Quest had offered Hasyim Asy'ari's family Rp 6 billion
(US$705,882) for permission to produce the coins.
"We did not receive Rp 6 billion. Even if we were offered Rp
600 trillion we would reject it because these coins are an insult
to the dignity of the late KH Hasyim Asy'ari," he said.
He threatened to deploy students from his school to protest
the company if it went ahead with plans to issue the gold coins
on Oct. 21.
If necessary, the planned launch ceremony will be disrupted,
Yusuf said.
He also said the NU had declared that Gold Quest's business
practices were haram, or prohibited under Islamic law.
Accompanied by Masduqi Mahfudh, who chairs the lawmaking body
of NU's East Java chapter, Yusuf said the organization supported
his family's decision to take legal action against the company.
According to the leaders of the 40 million-strong NU,
producing gold coins bearing the image of Hasyim Asy'ari would
belittle the organization's image, Yusuf said.
"We oppose these gold coins because Hasyim Asy'ari was a
respected NU leader, and the Gold Quest business is haram,"
Masduki said.
He said he had been invited to attend the Oct. 21 launch of
the coins, but would not accept the invitation.
Yusuf urged the police to take action and prevent Gold Quest
from producing the coins.
He threatened to sue the police chief if he failed to respond
to his complaint.
Gold Quest International Ltd., whose main office is in Hong
Kong, is a retail company producing gold items. It set up a
branch company called PT Gold Quest Indonesia, whose office is
located in Wisma Metropolitan II in Jakarta.
The company has already produced gold coins bearing the image
of Indonesian badminton star Rudy Hartono, which were launched on
May 1, 2003.