NU rules out Gus Dur's interference in election
NU rules out Gus Dur's interference in election
SEMARANG (JP): Leaders of the country's biggest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) dismissed on Wednesday
speculation that President Abdurrahman Wahid interfered in the
election of the new chief of its youth wing GP Ansor.
"It is too much if Gus Dur intervenes in the (election)
process," said Solahudin Wahid in reference to Abdurrahman, who
is his elder brother.
Abdurrahman, who chaired NU for 15 years before his election
as the president last October, is scheduled to open the 12th
congress of Ansor on Thursday. The five-day congress will be held
at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory in Boyolali, some 60 kilometers
southeast of here.
Solahudin admitted that the top post in Ansor is considered
strategic as it oversees some one million members of Banser,
Ansor's civilian guards.
"I do hope that all (Ansor) branch chiefs will give freedom to
all members to nominate their prospective leaders," he said on
Wednesday.
Ilham Hamidjaja, deputy chairman of Ansor's Central Java
chapter shared Solahudin's view about Abdurrahman's neutral
stance toward the congress.
"He's too great to do that," Ilham said.
As for the Ansor chairman nominee, the most popular candidate
in Central Java is Syaifulloh Yusuf, Gus Dur's nephew, Ilham said
on Wednesday.
"But whoever wins, we will support him all the way," he said.
Syaifulloh is presently the chairman of GP Ansor. He took over
from Mohammad Iqbal Assegaf, who died in a car accident in 1998.
Syaifulloh is also a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in the House of
Representatives (DPR).
Two of GP Ansor's previous chairmen, Slamet Effendi Yusuf and
the late Mohammad Iqbal Assegaf joined the Golkar Party. Slamet
is now a Golkar Party leader and a DPR member.
Several names have been mentioned as GP Ansor's chief
candidates, Ilham said.
They include Syaifulloh, former secretary-general of GP Ansor,
Saefulah Maksum, one of the organization's chairman, Fathoni
Rodi, and Khotibul Uman Wirono, chairman of the Association of
Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (PMII).
More than 1,900 provincial GP Ansor representatives across the
country have confirmed their participation to elect the new chief
for the 2000-2005 term.
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to close the
congress on July 2.
In Boyolali, Syaifulloh said in a media briefing at Donohudan
Haj Dormitory on Wednesday said that he is ready to be nominated
as chairman. "If I fail, that is okay for me."
Syaifulloh also denied allegations that he used money politics
to maintain his post. "It's not true and I take it as a wish of
good luck for me," he said.
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who was also present at the media
briefing, said he hopes for a democratic congress. "This is the
process of being mature. I hope that nobody gets blind with
ambition," Hasyim added. (har/swa/edt)
SEMARANG (JP): Leaders of the country's biggest Muslim
organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) dismissed on Wednesday
speculation that President Abdurrahman Wahid interfered in the
election of the new chief of its youth wing GP Ansor.
"It is too much if Gus Dur intervenes in the (election)
process," said Solahudin Wahid in reference to Abdurrahman, who
is his elder brother.
Abdurrahman, who chaired NU for 15 years before his election
as the president last October, is scheduled to open the 12th
congress of Ansor on Thursday. The five-day congress will be held
at the Donohudan Haj Dormitory in Boyolali, some 60 kilometers
southeast of here.
Solahudin admitted that the top post in Ansor is considered
strategic as it oversees some one million members of Banser,
Ansor's civilian guards.
"I do hope that all (Ansor) branch chiefs will give freedom to
all members to nominate their prospective leaders," he said on
Wednesday.
Ilham Hamidjaja, deputy chairman of Ansor's Central Java
chapter shared Solahudin's view about Abdurrahman's neutral
stance toward the congress.
"He's too great to do that," Ilham said.
As for the Ansor chairman nominee, the most popular candidate
in Central Java is Syaifulloh Yusuf, Gus Dur's nephew, Ilham said
on Wednesday.
"But whoever wins, we will support him all the way," he said.
Syaifulloh is presently the chairman of GP Ansor. He took over
from Mohammad Iqbal Assegaf, who died in a car accident in 1998.
Syaifulloh is also a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in the House of
Representatives (DPR).
Two of GP Ansor's previous chairmen, Slamet Effendi Yusuf and
the late Mohammad Iqbal Assegaf joined the Golkar Party. Slamet
is now a Golkar Party leader and a DPR member.
Several names have been mentioned as GP Ansor's chief
candidates, Ilham said.
They include Syaifulloh, former secretary-general of GP Ansor,
Saefulah Maksum, one of the organization's chairman, Fathoni
Rodi, and Khotibul Uman Wirono, chairman of the Association of
Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (PMII).
More than 1,900 provincial GP Ansor representatives across the
country have confirmed their participation to elect the new chief
for the 2000-2005 term.
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to close the
congress on July 2.
In Boyolali, Syaifulloh said in a media briefing at Donohudan
Haj Dormitory on Wednesday said that he is ready to be nominated
as chairman. "If I fail, that is okay for me."
Syaifulloh also denied allegations that he used money politics
to maintain his post. "It's not true and I take it as a wish of
good luck for me," he said.
NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi, who was also present at the media
briefing, said he hopes for a democratic congress. "This is the
process of being mature. I hope that nobody gets blind with
ambition," Hasyim added. (har/swa/edt)