Idrus Marham: 35th NU Congress Must Become a Moment of Revival

Two days before the 35th NU Congress, the dynamics of the candidate market for General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) are intensifying. A number of names have emerged with varying levels of support, while circulated survey and polling results have yet to show a single dominant candidate.

Amid these dynamics, Idrus Marham, a member of the Organisational Advisory Council of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement Family Association (IKPMII), asserted that the NU Congress must not be reduced to merely an arena for contesting the position of PBNU General Chairman.

According to Idrus, the 35th NU Congress should instead be positioned as a momentum for Nahdlatul Ulama’s revival as it enters the second century of the organisation’s journey. This momentum must be directed towards organising leadership, consolidating the direction of the struggle, and strengthening NU’s role in shaping future civilisation.

“In essence, the 35th NU Congress, entering the second century of NU’s journey, must become a momentum for NU’s revival. The Congress must be seen as a Momentum of Unity as well as revival in the context of looking towards leadership, consolidating NU’s role as a determinant in shaping future civilisation,” Idrus said in a written statement on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

Idrus assessed that this spirit of revival must be realised through ideal choices in the Congress process. NU, he said, is not enough merely to maintain the organisation’s existence, but must also be able to respond to the developments of the times without losing its religious tradition roots.

“For that reason, we must do things that are more ideal. This year’s Congress must become a momentum of revival, entering the second century, in the context of organising leadership to consolidate NU’s role in shaping future civilisation,” he said.

He affirmed that NU’s revival does not mean abandoning the traditions that have so far been the organisation’s foundation. On the contrary, the Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah religious tradition must continue to be nurtured and developed contextually in accordance with the times.

“So there are two things. We nurture the Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah religious tradition while also playing a role in shaping civilisation in accordance with existing developments,” Idrus asserted.

Therefore, Idrus hopes the NU Congress can become a momentum for organising leadership, consolidating the direction of the struggle, and building NU’s future so that it becomes stronger in taking on a strategic role amidst changing times.