NU members told to use conscience

JAKARTA: Abdullah Abbas, an influential leader in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has called on the some 40 million NU members to use their conscience when voting in the July 5 presidential election, his son Ayib Abbas said here on Sunday.

Ayib quoted his father as saying members of the country's largest Muslim organization should not necessarily be influenced by the National Awakening Party (PKB)'s decision to support Wiranto and his running mate Solahuddin Wahid. The PKB is associated with the NU.

Abdullah also asked NU members to pray before going to the poll booths on July 5 in order to receive God's direction to vote for a leader who is credible and will be able to lead the nation out of crisis, Ayib said. -- Antara