Gus Yahya Hits Back at Cak Imin: He Doesn't Understand PBNU!

VIVA, Jakarta – General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, or Gus Yahya, has responded to remarks by National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, known as Cak Imin, regarding new leadership within PBNU. Cak Imin had expressed the view that previous PBNU leaders had not brought about change, necessitating a refresh at the top of the organisation. In response, Gus Yahya suggested that Cak Imin holds such an opinion because he does not know NU well, especially since Cak Imin has never served as an NU board member. “Go ahead if Mr. Muhaimin holds that opinion. I think Mr. Imin says that because he perhaps does not really understand NU,” Gus Yahya stated during a press conference at the PBNU Office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. “Because in his entire life, he has never been an NU board member at any level. He has never even been a branch board member. So he does not know what the changes are like,” he continued. On the other hand, Gus Yahya is confident that many fundamental advances have been achieved during this management period. “Now, if you check with the NU ranks down to the grassroots level, I think no one can deny the fundamental progress that has been successfully achieved during this management period,” Gus Yahya remarked.