Prabowo Claims He Should Learn Politics from NU

The closing of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) National Deliberation of Religious Scholars (Munas) and Grand Conference (Konbes) was held at the Syaichona Mohammad Cholil Islamic Institute in Bangkalan, Madura, East Java. During his closing speech, President Prabowo Subianto remarked that he should learn politics from NU.

Prabowo attended the event on Tuesday, 23 June, wearing a khaki safari suit and a black peci cap. He greeted the nahdliyin members who had awaited his arrival. The President was welcomed by Rais Aam PBNU Miftachul Akhyar, PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf, and Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar. Also in attendance were MPR Chairman Ahmad Muzani, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Nusron Wahid, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Chair of the PP Muslimat NU Advisory Board and Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

At the start of his speech, Prabowo greeted several ministers with NU backgrounds and noted that NU members are present in every political party. He joked that various parties should learn politics from NU. “This Red and White Cabinet has a lot of NU members,” Prabowo said, praising the organisation’s cadre development, which places its members in various organisations and government bodies. “NU is great. It is always everywhere. It is present in all parties. So NU never loses. Great, great. We should learn politics from NU,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Prabowo also stated that he always feels comfortable surrounded by NU elements, citing a historical and familial closeness. “I have always felt comfortable amidst the large NU family. Comfortable and safe, a very warm welcome to me. The thing is, I have known the large NU family since I was little because I was neighbours with Gus Dur’s family in Jakarta. And my grandmother, my maternal grandmother, was from NU,” he said.

Prabowo assessed that NU is a religious organisation that is also nationalist and patriotic. He noted that NU’s traditional songs contain love for the homeland, even though they were written before Indonesia’s independence. He specifically mentioned the song ‘Ya Lal Wathon’, observing that NU members always clench their fists when singing it, like TNI soldiers. “This was before Kopassus existed, NU was already ahead of Kopassus. Now, what about the TNI? There is that command salute pose; NU had it first, before independence they already had that command salute,” he said.

Prabowo also stressed the important role of kiai and ulama in society, down to the grassroots level, calling them the figures closest to the people, especially in rural areas. He said ulama directly feel the problems faced by the people, particularly the lower classes, a condition similar to that of state apparatus like soldiers and police who also come from the community. He then joked that he must obey the kiai at the NU event, but at the palace, the kiai must obey him. “That is what is called ulama and umara united for the nation and state,” he said.