Gus Lilur: All NU Congregants Regret the Conflict Within PBNU

Jakarta – Young Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure HRM Khalilur R Abdullah Sahlawiy has assessed that many NU members regret the internal conflict occurring within the PBNU. He stated that the conflict has become too great. “All Nahdlatul Ulama congregants regret the ongoing quarrels within the PBNU. The quarrelling has even reached a point that many NU members describe as ‘ambyar’ to ‘mudyar’—broken and difficult to reunite,” said Gus Lilur, as he is familiarly known, on Saturday, 27 June 2026. Gus Lilur explained that there are at least six main figures who have been involved in the dynamics of the conflict over recent years. However, he noted that the conflict has occurred among those who organisationally should be supporting one another. “The Katib Aam should work in harmony with the Rais Aam. The Chairperson should ideally work harmoniously with the Secretary-General. Likewise, the Vice Chairperson and the Treasurer-General,” he said. He assessed that the conflict has gone on for so long that it has become public consumption. The majority of NU members do not wish for their leaders to continue quarrelling. Moreover, he continued, this follows the Islah Lirboyo agreement, which had provided hope that the internal PBNU conflict would end. “To this day, the tension continues. Many people have then concluded that the source of the problem lies solely in the feud between Chairperson KH Yahya Cholil Staquf and Secretary-General Saifullah Yusuf,” he said. On the other hand, he assessed that the history of conflict within the PBNU has been long-standing. One of the figures involved within the NU circle is KH Miftahul Akhyar. “This writing is certainly not intended to spread slander. On the contrary, this writing aims to open a perspective based on historical track records, so that nahdliyin members can clearly assess what kind of figure is needed to lead PBNU in the future,” he said. “KH Miftahul Akhyar’s structural career within NU began when he served as Rais Syuriah of the Surabaya PCNU for the 2000-2005 period. At the same time, the Chair of the Tanfidziyah of the Surabaya PCNU was held by KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim,” he continued. He said that KH Asep is certainly no ordinary kiai. However, in various stories circulating among Surabaya nahdliyin, the relationship between KH Asep and KH Miftahul Akhyar was not always harmonious.