PBNU Chairman Affirms 35th Congress Will Focus on Programmes and Leadership Direction

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, familiarly known as “Gus Yahya”, has stressed that the 35th NU Congress will focus more on discussing the organisation’s programmes and refreshing the leadership direction for the next five years than on other matters.

He emphasised that the five-year programme ahead and the organisation’s leadership will be the main items discussed at the 35th Congress, serving as a forum to determine Nahdlatul Ulama’s direction after the current leadership period ends.

“There, the programme for the next five years will be discussed, leadership renewal for the next five years, and also several other important matters,” he said after attending the Gerakan Nasional Pesantrenku Aman event at Darul Ilmi Islamic Boarding School in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday.

He noted that the 35th NU Congress is planned to be held at Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java, on 27–31 August 2026.

The congress will serve as Nahdlatul Ulama’s consultative forum to formulate the organisation’s agenda while determining the leadership that will implement the decisions over the following five years.

Ahead of the 35th NU Congress, Nahdlatul Ulama branches in South Kalimantan have communicated a request to Gus Yahya to stand again as PBNU General Chairman for the next period.

“We are fulfilling the request from the branches in South Kalimantan that have already communicated it,” said Gus Yahya.

At the meeting, Gus Yahya inaugurated a number of PCNU branches in South Kalimantan, namely PCNU Banjarbaru City, Banjarmasin City, Tanah Bumbu, Tanah Laut, Barito Kuala, South Hulu Sungai, Central Hulu Sungai, Balangan, and Alabio.