Hasyim-Sahal back in NU top spots
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