Religious Affairs Minister Inaugurates Basnang Said as Director-General of Pesantren
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar inaugurated Basnang Said as Director-General of Pesantren, along with four leaders of State Religious Higher Education Institutions (PTKN), at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“Within 100 days, this pesantren (Islamic boarding school) directorate should deliver positive surprises that you can achieve, so that people can feel, ‘Ah, this is the difference between before and now’,” said Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar.
Basnang Said was inaugurated as the first Director-General of Pesantren, following the establishment of the Directorate-General of Pesantren as a new work unit at the first-echelon level within the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Directorate-General of Pesantren is no longer part of the Directorate-General of Islamic Education within the ministry’s organisational structure.
Its establishment is based on Presidential Regulation Number 18 of 2026 concerning Amendments to Presidential Regulation Number 152 of 2024 on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which was issued on 27 March 2026. Article 7 states that the Directorate-General of Pesantren forms part of the ministry’s organisational structure.
Article 7 of the regulation also stipulates that the Directorate-General of Pesantren is a distinct work unit within the ministry’s organisational structure.
The appointment of Basnang Said as Director-General of Pesantren was set out in Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 114/TPA of 2026, signed in Jakarta on 10 September 2026.
The minister asked Basnang Said to promptly establish governance for the new directorate-general and strengthen cooperation with the leadership elements who will complete the institution’s structure. He also urged the directorate to build communication and outreach with the various stakeholders of pesantren.
According to him, pesantren management requires cooperation with the many parties involved in running pesantren in the regions.
Beyond organisational structuring and cooperation, the minister called for positive steps within the new directorate’s first 100 days. He hopes these steps will demonstrate changes that people can feel once the new institution begins carrying out its duties.
In addition, the minister also inaugurated four PTKN leaders:
Prof. Akh. Muzakki, M.Ag., Grad.Dip.SEA as Rector of Sunan Ampel State Islamic University Surabaya for the 2026–2030 term
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faisal, M.Ag. as Rector of Sultan Amai State Islamic University Gorontalo until 12 November 2029
Prof. Dr. Husain Insawan, M.Ag. as Rector of Kendari State Islamic University
Dr. Li. Edi Ramawijaya Putra, M.Pd. as Rector of the Sriwijaya Tangerang State Buddhist Institute.