MUI Vice Chairman's Message to Director General Basnang Said: Restore Trust in Pesantrens!

The Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH M Cholil Nafis, has delivered an important message to Basnang Said, who was recently inaugurated as the Director General (Dirjen) of Pesantrens at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) RI. Kiai Cholil encouraged Basnang to focus his work programme on restoring the image and strengthening public trust in pesantren (Islamic boarding school) institutions across Indonesia.

Kiai Cholil explained that pesantren represent the primary identity of Islamic education, possessing unique Indonesian historical and cultural values. According to him, pesantren are not merely places for seeking knowledge, but a complete and specific educational ecosystem characterised by the presence of caregivers, the study of classical texts (kitab kuning), and a dormitory-based care system.

“Please protect the pesantren, and even restore trust in pesantren to what it once was,” Kiai Cholil stated in his remarks on Wednesday (16/09/2026).

Furthermore, Kiai Cholil highlighted a concerning phenomenon that has recurred in recent years. Every time the new student admission period approaches, pesantren institutions are often faced with structured negative information or issues that tarnish the reputation of these religious institutions.

As a result, public trust has fluctuated, leading to a decline in new student registration numbers in various regions. Therefore, the establishment of the Directorate General of Pesantrens, which now stands independently as an echelon I working unit, is expected to provide a solution to these challenges.

The caregiver of Pondok Pesantren Cendekia Amanah in Depok, West Java, added that the Directorate General of Pesantrens should not only perform administrative functions but also act as a protector and restorer of the dignity (muruah) of pesantren institutions.

“In recent years, every time before the admission of new students, there has always been negative information regarding pesantren. Consequently, pesantren admissions have decreased. Therefore, restore the public’s trust in pesantren, because it is the alumni of pesantren who will eventually fill the roles of religious scholars and leaders in Indonesia,” said Kiai Cholil.

He also offered prayers that Basnang Said can carry out this great mandate with full responsibility for the sake of the continuity of preaching (dakwah) and the regeneration of religious scholars in Indonesia.