Observer: NU Must Keep Its Distance from Ruling Groups
Political observer Ujang Komarudin has stressed the importance of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) maintaining its independence as Indonesia’s largest socio-religious organisation. He cautioned that NU must not fall under the control of, or be co-opted by, political power interests. According to Ujang, NU’s highly strategic position means its organisational conduct greatly influences national stability. Independence is therefore the key to preserving the organisation’s moral function.
“If NU cannot be controlled by power or by the state, then the state could be shaken. NU is one of the state’s strengths. Therefore, NU must never be under the control of power,” Ujang said in a statement on Tuesday (25/8).
Ujang assessed that NU’s vast network and mass base should be focused more on community empowerment in the social, economic and religious spheres. Excessive involvement in practical politics, he argued, risks obscuring the mass organisation’s primary function.
He also encouraged the emergence of a new movement format or the idea of a ‘New NU’. Through this concept, NU is expected to be more consistent in distancing itself from power in order to strengthen its role in safeguarding social justice within society.
“If it is co-opted by power, then I am sorry to say, NU will be no different from other mass organisations that are under the control of power,” he asserted.
Ahead of the 35th NU Congress scheduled for late August 2026, Ujang expressed hope that those holding voting rights would elect a Rais Aam figure with strong scholarly capacity and high moral integrity.
He added that an independent stance and keeping a distance from power politics does not mean making NU an anti-government organisation. On the contrary, independence is precisely what is needed for NU to remain objective in providing input for the benefit of the public and the wider community.
A number of Islamic scholars who lead Islamic boarding schools have also stressed the importance of NU returning to its khittah as an independent socio-religious organisation. Ahead of the 35th NU Congress in Jombang, Nahdliyin Bergerak leader HRM Khalilur R. Abdullah Sahlawiy (Gus Lilur) urged congress participants to be critical.
Yenny Wahid said internal factional reconciliation is absolutely necessary after the 35th NU Congress in Jombang to maintain organisational solidarity and return to the khittah. NU is being encouraged to expand its role from a national-level socio-religious organisation into a civil society force that also contributes to building world peace.
Gus Lilur highlighted the potential for conflicts of interest given that Saifullah Yusuf and Nusron Wahid hold strategic positions in the cabinet as well as within the PBNU structure.