Said, Hasyim favorite in battle for NU's top post

Thu, 25 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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)