Said, Hasyim favorite in battle for NU's top post
KEDIRI, East Java (JP): Said Aqiel Siradj and Hasyim Muzadi remained the two hottest candidates to take the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) chairmanship in Thursday's scheduled election.
Another popular contender, Mustofa Bisri, indicated on Wednesday that he would reject the nomination. However, some question whether his statement is a concession of defeat or a tactic to quietly gain more support.
Both Said and Hasyim confirmed in separate occasions on Wednesday that they were ready to assume the helm, known as Tanfidziyah, of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization which claims a membership of 35 million.
Both boast the support of senior ulemas and the 306 branches who will have the right to vote.
Hasyim's "success team" had aggressively campaigned ahead of the official start of the congress last week. They distributed two of Hasyim's latest books Nadhlatul Ulama: Di Tengah Agenda Persoalan Bangsa (Nahdlatul Ulama in the Midst of the Nation's Crisis) and Membangun NU Pasca Gus Dur (Building NU After Gus Dur) to delegates in an attempt to woo support.
Hasyim, however, continues to project a somewhat aloof image, saying that he really has no ambition for NU's top post and would continue his religious education work in East Java, particularly his pesantren (Islamic boarding school), the Al Hikam Islamic Boarding School in Malang, if defeated.
Asked about his close relationship with outgoing NU chief President Abdurrahman Wahid, Hasyim said that it was not based on common visions both shared.
"If I am elected to lead NU, I will be as critical of the government as Gus Dur was in the past," he said referring to the president by his popular nickname.
NU delegations from East and Central Java and areas of West Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi have promised to support Hasyim.
"Muzadi has strong leadership qualities and wide horizons, not only on NU but also on national and international matters," Muchtaruddin, chairman of the NU branch in Aceh said.
Meanwhile, Said Aqiel Siradj's camp also admitted that they had lobbied intensively.
"I am running in the race only after senior ulemas and delegations asked me to do so and promised to support me," he said on Wednesday.
If elected, Said pledged to develop NU and help the government to resolve national problems to make Indonesia more secure and peaceful.
He denied allegations that his camp had delved into money politics in an attempt to gain support.
"The allegations are baseless because aside from having no money, such a practice is against the organization's statute and Islamic teaching," he said.
Meanwhile, Mustofa, popularly known as Gus Mus, said in a press conference he was incapable of heading the organization.
"I may be able to deceive NU's supporters but I will not be able to deceive Allah. It would be better for the congress to elect one of the two candidates because both have real ability to lead the organization," he said.
However, many ulemas and observers hailed Gus Mus' rejection as a strategy to seek support as an alternative candidate if delegates are split between the two leading candidates.
"Gus Mus cannot reject the leadership if the congress elects him. It is his strategy to win support from the congress' participants," Noer Iskandar Al-Barsany, director of the Al- Hidayah Islamic Boarding School in Purwokerto, Central Java, said.(rms)
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