Ulema want NU congress to empower 'syuriah'
Ulema want NU congress to empower 'syuriah'
Blontank Poer and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
Dozens of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) senior clerics want the country's
largest Muslim organization to give the leader of its lawmaking
body the power to dismiss members of the central executive board
for political offenses.
M. Zaim Ahmad Ma'sum, spokesman for the clerics, said on
Monday this power was necessary to prevent the NU from being
dragged into practical politics, as many of the clerics believe
occurred under current executive chairman Hasyim Muzadi.
The authority of the syuriah (lawmaking body) must be
strengthened to allow the leader of the body to dismiss the
executive chairman if he violates NU regulations, Zaim said.
"Over the past five years, the NU has been damaged by bitter
internal bickering amid the weak position of the syuriah," he
said.
Most of the senior clerics calling for more power for the
lawmaking body are supporters of former NU chairman Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid, who opposes Hasyim's reelection as chairman.
They include Tuan Guru Turmudzi Badruddin, Mas Subadar, Sanusi
Baco, Muhaiminan Gunardho and Abdullah Abbas.
Zaim said the lawmaking body's lack of authority prevented it
from taking action if the executive chairman attempted to use the
NU for his own political gains.
"It is not because Sahal Mahfudz is not credible as the
current syuriah chairman, but because certain people on the
executive board availed of his goodness (to misuse the NU).
"To prevent these types of incidents from happening in the
future, we suggest that the syuriah be granted more authority to
dismiss members of the executive board," Zaim said.
Former NU deputy chairman Solahudin Wahid said Sahal failed to
prevent Hasyim from politicizing the religious organization.
"The syuriah is the supreme body in the NU and has the
authority to take firm action against any violations," he said.
"Pak Sahal is too weak to do so, while Pak Hasyim hides behind
the goodness of Pak Sahal," Solahudin said.
While presenting his accountability report on Monday during
the ongoing five-day NU congress in Surakarta, Central Java,
Hasyim said Sahal had endorsed his decision to contest the recent
presidential election as the running mate of Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
Zaim said that according to NU tradition, clerics hold the
supreme authority in the Islamic organization and should be able
to remove NU executives who violate the organization's principle
of staying out of practical politics.
"Like a company, the syuriah is the board of commissioners and
the executive board is the board of directors. And it is normal
for commissioners or owners to dismiss any directors found in
violation of regulations," he said.
Zaim said a team of 23 clerics had been set up to lobby and
push for a revision of the NU's standing orders in order to
empower the lawmaking body.
The syuriah already has the right to approve or reject
candidates for the NU's top executive post.
Leaders of the NU's lawmaking and executive bodies are elected
during national congresses for five-year terms.
Blontank Poer and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta
Dozens of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) senior clerics want the country's
largest Muslim organization to give the leader of its lawmaking
body the power to dismiss members of the central executive board
for political offenses.
M. Zaim Ahmad Ma'sum, spokesman for the clerics, said on
Monday this power was necessary to prevent the NU from being
dragged into practical politics, as many of the clerics believe
occurred under current executive chairman Hasyim Muzadi.
The authority of the syuriah (lawmaking body) must be
strengthened to allow the leader of the body to dismiss the
executive chairman if he violates NU regulations, Zaim said.
"Over the past five years, the NU has been damaged by bitter
internal bickering amid the weak position of the syuriah," he
said.
Most of the senior clerics calling for more power for the
lawmaking body are supporters of former NU chairman Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid, who opposes Hasyim's reelection as chairman.
They include Tuan Guru Turmudzi Badruddin, Mas Subadar, Sanusi
Baco, Muhaiminan Gunardho and Abdullah Abbas.
Zaim said the lawmaking body's lack of authority prevented it
from taking action if the executive chairman attempted to use the
NU for his own political gains.
"It is not because Sahal Mahfudz is not credible as the
current syuriah chairman, but because certain people on the
executive board availed of his goodness (to misuse the NU).
"To prevent these types of incidents from happening in the
future, we suggest that the syuriah be granted more authority to
dismiss members of the executive board," Zaim said.
Former NU deputy chairman Solahudin Wahid said Sahal failed to
prevent Hasyim from politicizing the religious organization.
"The syuriah is the supreme body in the NU and has the
authority to take firm action against any violations," he said.
"Pak Sahal is too weak to do so, while Pak Hasyim hides behind
the goodness of Pak Sahal," Solahudin said.
While presenting his accountability report on Monday during
the ongoing five-day NU congress in Surakarta, Central Java,
Hasyim said Sahal had endorsed his decision to contest the recent
presidential election as the running mate of Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
Zaim said that according to NU tradition, clerics hold the
supreme authority in the Islamic organization and should be able
to remove NU executives who violate the organization's principle
of staying out of practical politics.
"Like a company, the syuriah is the board of commissioners and
the executive board is the board of directors. And it is normal
for commissioners or owners to dismiss any directors found in
violation of regulations," he said.
Zaim said a team of 23 clerics had been set up to lobby and
push for a revision of the NU's standing orders in order to
empower the lawmaking body.
The syuriah already has the right to approve or reject
candidates for the NU's top executive post.
Leaders of the NU's lawmaking and executive bodies are elected
during national congresses for five-year terms.