PBNU Finalises 35th Congress Agenda Through Pre-Congress Deliberations
The Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) is finalising the agenda for the 35th Congress through pre-congress deliberations to ensure the plenary session runs more effectively, whilst also opening space for input on organisational programmes, particularly the digital-based development of the jam’iyah.
Khatib Aam of PBNU, Prof. Mohammad Nuh, stated in Surabaya on Tuesday that the materials to be discussed at the congress had been prepared since the National Conference (Munas) and Grand Conference (Konbes), and were being matured ahead of the congress.
"We do not want all the materials to be discussed directly at the Congress without preparation. Materials that have the potential to cause differences of opinion will be discussed first at the pre-congress, so that the discussions at the Congress later will be relatively softer," said Mohammad Nuh, who is the Secretary of the Steering Committee for the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama Congress.
He explained that the materials under discussion cover religious affairs, organisational matters, recommendations, and programmes that fall under the congress’s authority to decide. According to him, the digital-based development of the jam’iyah is a key focus because the organisation’s future challenges will be dominated by the younger generation born and raised in the digital era.
Mohammad Nuh added that discussions on changes to the Articles of Association and Bylaws (AD/ART) will continue to follow strictly regulated mechanisms and are not part of open proposals.
On the same occasion, he also confirmed that the process of issuing Decrees (SK) for the management of Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Boards (PCNU) and Regional Boards (PWNU) is proceeding transparently. He firmly denied rumours that the decrees were being withheld to influence choices at the Congress.
"The SK is a right for PCNU and PWNU, while for PBNU it is an obligation to issue them as long as organisational requirements are met. Therefore, the issue of decree hostage-taking is untrue," he said.
Regarding the election mechanism for PBNU leadership, Mohammad Nuh stated that the system for electing the Rais Aam will continue to use the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi (AHWA) mechanism. The mechanism for electing the General Chairman of PBNU, however, will still be discussed and decided during the 35th Congress. He noted that one proposal to be debated is changing the election pattern for the General Chairman from individual leadership to collective leadership to address the organisation’s increasingly complex challenges.