NU to issue leadership criteria

NU to issue leadership criteria

JAKARTA: The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU), will hold a national meeting before the presidential
election to draw up a list of criteria for future leaders.

NU deputy chairman Ahmad Bagdja said on Wednesday his
organization would recommend that future leaders must be free
from any corruption allegations.

"We are already urging our local leaders to tell their
followers at every occasion about the negative impacts of
corruption.

"But a clear guideline will be issued ... which will recommend
that our followers not vote for politicians suspected of
corruption," Ahmad told reporters on the sidelines of a three-day
discussion on the national antigraft movement, jointly organized
by NU and the country's second largest Muslim organization,
Muhammadyah.

He, nevertheless, said the NU would not order followers vote
for certain political parties or politicians, saying that "the
people have the final right to make their own choice". -- JP