Hasyim-Sahal back in NU top spots
The Jakarta Post, Surakarta/Surabaya
Nahdlatul Ulama head Hasyim Muzadi stared down an attack by a rival faction on Thursday, winning reelection as NU chairman for another five years.
Haysim and NU lawmaking body chief Sahal Mahfudz staved off the persistent efforts of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, who had tried to rally support from senior clerics to dethrone Hasyim. Gus Dur chaired the 40 million-member organization for 15 years before he was elected Indonesian president in 1999.
Sahal, a charismatic cleric who also leads the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), was unanimously reelected as the NU's powerful syuriah (lawmaking body) chairman, while Hasyim saw off a light challenge from young figure F. Masdar Mas'udi in the runoff.
The unanimous decision to reelect Sahal came after he emerged the sole candidate to qualify for the runoff.
A candidate in each election required 99 votes to reach the runoff.
A speechless Gus Dur immediately left the venue shortly after he saw his defeat at the hand of Sahal in the first-round of elections. Gus Dur had repeatedly threatened to set up a splinter faction of the organization if Hasyim won his reelection.
The win of Sahal and Hasyim had been widely predicted by many at the congress, despite Gus Dur's resistance.
Hasyim shook hands with Masdar who congratulated him on his victory. Others scrambled to join in hugging and shaking hands with Hasyim.
Masdar said he hoped the election had not involved vote buying as alleged by the Gus Dur camp and young NU activists and observers.
Separately, Hasyim appealed to all NU figures to unite and end the bitter bickering over his chairmanship.
"For NU's progress in the future, let us forget all offensive things and let's join forces again for the sake of NU," Hasyim said after his win.
He said he would meet Gus Dur and other senior ulema opposed to his win and ask them to cancel their plans to establish a rival NU faction.
Hasyim's appeal might have already born fruit as several senior pro-Gus Dur clerics issued a statement in Surabaya, saying they had accepted the reelection of Hasyim and would not support any moves to set up a breakaway organization.
Subadar said respected cleric Abdullah Faqih of Langitan in Tuban also endorsed Hasyim's reelection.
"After a thorough deliberation, we decided not to found a rival NU faction as it would only split people at the grassroots," Subadar said.
The clerics, he said, deemed Hasyim's reelection a result of the democratic process, due to his outright majority win.
"It means they (NU followers) still trust Hasyim, even though by taking part in the presidential election a few months ago he dragged NU into politics," Subadar said.
Hasyim contested the election as the running mate for then incumbent president Megawati Soekarnoputri, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. They lost to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla in the Sept. 20 runoff.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the five-day congress, Sahal vowed to consolidate the organization's support in order to prevent an imminent split.
"This congress has diminished the spirit of our brotherhood. I promise to consolidate support from all figures to settle this internal conflict," Sahal said.
The five-day congress, held at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory, was closed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Business -- Page 5