NU to stay out of politics, Salahuddin says
NU to stay out of politics, Salahuddin says
JAKARTA (JP): An executive of the largest Muslim organization
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) said on Wednesday that it would better for
the organization to stay out of politics to enable it to focus on
social and religious activities.
NU deputy chairman Salahuddin Wahid said the organization had
to avoid being dragged into party politics again.
He remarked that a suggestion that NU should return to the
political arena by changing it into a party was not a good idea
because the most important thing was that NU remained close to
the grass-roots.
"I think the suggestion that NU should return to politics is
too emotional. After thoroughly studying it, I can see that it
would not be a good idea," Salahuddin said, as quoted by Antara.
Salahuddin reminded the importance of taking into
consideration the organization's commitment, made in 1926, to
focus on social and religious affairs, instead of politics.
NU has been under fire for its ongoing struggle to maintain
the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid, who was NU chairman for 15
years before being elected the fourth president of the country in
1999.
In the last days of Abdurrahman's tenure, NU kyai (ulemas)
even issued recommendations saying that any attempt to topple
Abdurrahman from the presidency would be considered a rebellion.
Salahuddin, who is also Abdurrahman's brother, emphasized that
it would be more flexible for NU, which has around 40 million
followers, to reach out to the public by remaining a social and
religious organization.
Meanwhile, Chairman Syafii Ma'arif of the second largest
Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, said after a meeting with Vice
President Hamzah Haz in Jakarta on Wednesday that NU Chairman
Hasyim Muzadi had promised to the Vice President that the
organization would avoid political affairs.
"Pak Hamzah mentioned that during the meeting with the NU
chairman, pak Hasyim assured that NU would stay away from
politics as it had gone too far during Abdurrahman's tenure,"
Syafii said.
Hamzah met Hasyim on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of
encouraging national reconciliation, especially following the
downfall of Abdurrahman from the presidency.
Syafii also reaffirmed that Muhammadiyah is ready to support
any effort toward reconciliation, badly needed to enable the
country to move forward and help boost economic recovery.
"Even though Muhammadiyah has never been involved in any
political conflict, we will support efforts for reconciliation,"
he said. (dja)