NU leader Abu Hasan caught in a double bind
NU leader Abu Hasan caught in a double bind
By Santi WE Soekanto
JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Abu Hasan entered the recent Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress a virtual unknown, emerged as a strong contender and left as a political hot-potato most NU ulemas couldn't get rid of quickly enough.
His actions have earned him the wrath of NU kyais (scholars). Some of his supporters have deserted him and he's not exactly the apple of the government's eye as shown by a few officials' less than favorable comments.
However, he should be at least remembered as the first person to break the NU's strong tradition of devotion toward leaders who are descendants of NU founder Hasjim Asj'ari, Abdurrahman Wahid's grandfather.
Abu managed to divide the loyalty of NU followers which, for the previous two terms, had been directed toward Abdurrahman alone.
The member of the People's Consultative Assembly from the ruling Golkar faction was so confident he would win, he invited journalists to his hotel room and handed out his curriculum vitae a day before the elections.
He got 136 votes to Abdurrahman's 157 votes in the preliminary election process. In the final vote, he allowed Abdurrahman to win by only a slim margin; he snatched 142 votes, while Abdurrahman won with 174 votes.
He's not as sore a loser as people have charged.
Immediately after his defeat, he told the press that Abdurrahman, more popularly known as Gus Dur, was indeed the better man.
He also expressed the hope that Gus Dur would establish an executive board which reflected the vote distribution -- meaning he should get the second top seat.
Gus Dur excluded Abu Hasan from the board, backing his rejection with the charge that Abu Hasan was involved in a financial scandal.
The businessman retaliated immediately. He threatened to sue Gus Dur for slander, and to expose various defects in the congress, held in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Dec. 1 - 5.
He went so far as establishing an extra-structural body which named him as chairman and put former NU chairman and vice prime minister K.H. Idham Chalid in the advisory council.
He brought the internal NU conflict to a new height last week.
He assembled a number of fellow dissenters in one of his large houses in Jakarta to prepare for a repeat congress. He called the body the Coordinating Board for the Executives Board of NU (KPPNU) and modeled it on the official executive board.
Most of the prominent ulemas he named to the body, however, immediately declared that they didn't have anything to do with their appointments.
Uncertainty
Many ulemas, who silently resent Gus Dur's high-profile political activities but can't risk being associated with Abu Hasan, are uncertain.
One prominent NU kyai (scholar) from the Jakarta chapter embodies this uncertainty perfectly. He showed up to the first meeting of Abu Hasan's board because his name was on the membership list. He paced uncertainly in front of Abu Hasan's house, cellular telephone in hand, whispered with several journalists, then, having made up his mind, rushed to get away from the house.
Inside, Abu Hasan confidently told reporters that this kyai would eventually come, that he was delayed in heavy traffic.
Donors
For many NU members, who believe that the organization's leadership has been dominated by kyais from Java, the man who was born in Jambi province represented an alternative leader.
This explains why he received so many votes, especially from chapters outside Java. He has spread his roots deeply enough within the organization.
He is also very generous to NU. Abu Hasan has always donated large amounts for the organization's activities.
He was an important figure in the congress committee, and was assigned to explain to reporters that the organization will pay greater attention to social-economic programs.
This was Abu Hasan's turf. The successful telecommunication businessman clearly represented something that many participants believed to be practical solution to the problems of poverty facing many NU supporters in rural areas.
Abu told reporters that NU should implement professional and practical economic programs in the next five years. "Most NU followers live in villages, so the logical programs would be simple upstream industry, especially agriculture," he explained. "Later on, we can go on toward other industries."
Abu was sure that the concept would work out fine if NU could cooperate with the government, something which wouldn't be difficult for person who is more a businessman than an ulema.
He has yet to show any sign of giving up his concepts in his defeat. "I love NU," he said when installing the extra-structural body. "The KPPNU will go on with its economic programs for the sake of improving the welfare of NU followers."
Born in 1934 in Kerinci, Sungai Penuh, Jambi, Abu Hasan became chairman of Ansor Youth, an organization of students under NU, in the West Sumatra province during his high-school years. According to Gatra weekly, he went on to study at the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta.
Upon graduating, he returned to work in Jambi. Between 1958 and 1960, he was chosen by Idham Chalid, then vice prime minister, to study abroad and represent the Ansor organization.
"I will never forget what Pak Idham did for me," he said of the respected NU scholar who still strongly supports him. "He gave me my opportunities."
Abu began his studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1960, and received a masters degree in public administration in 1962. He worked for about a year in London, two years in Hong Kong and then spent some time in various jobs and places. He returned home in 1973.
Abu reportedly has a number of companies involved in various industries and in cooperation with various overseas projects. His wealth probably contributed to the widespread accusations of his buying votes.
He denies the vote buying accusations, challenging his opponents to prove it. So far, nobody has ventured to do so.