NU Figure Warns That Money Politics at Congress Could Pawn NU's Future

Jakarta, VIVA – Prominent Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figure HRM Khallilur R Abdullah Sahlawiy, familiarly known as Gus Lilur, has warned that the upcoming NU Congress must be free from money politics, and if necessary, should prohibit it outright.

According to Gus Lilur, money politics not only influences the voices of Congress participants but could also pawn NU’s future.

“Before the Congress moves too far into candidate dynamics and power configurations, one thing must be affirmed from the outset, clearly and without compromise: money politics is haram, and NU must not be built on something haram,” Gus Lilur told reporters on Monday, 6 April 2026.

Declaring money politics as haram, Gus Lilur stated, is not merely a repetition of norms but a determination of direction. From there, the entire Congress process will be tested—whether it becomes a dignified election space or merely a transaction arena that endangers the organisation’s future.

“The most fundamental aspect is ensuring that all Congress participants are not involved in money politics practices. They must not accept it, negotiate it, let alone participate in its distribution, especially if the money comes from corruption practices. At that point, the issue no longer stops at ethical violations but transforms into legal and institutional risks,” he said.

Gus Lilur also warned that NU could be dragged into corruption networks and even potentially drawn into the vortex of money laundering crimes (TPPU). According to him, this is not an excessive assumption but a real consequence of the relationship between money, power, and law.

“Accepting money politics means not only selling votes but also pawning NU’s future. This awareness should lead to more decisive steps: from now on, the NU Executive Board must cleanse the organisation of those indicated to be involved in corruption practices,” he stated.

Gus Lilur said that NU cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that recently, NU’s image has been tarnished by issues intersecting with power governance, including in the alleged corruption case of Hajj pilgrimage organisation. Regardless of the ongoing legal processes, he said, such cases have already damaged public perception.