Chairman Of PBNU: NU Has Never Asked For Or Contested The Position Of Chairman Of PBNU: NU Has Never Asked For Or Contested Positions

Chairman (Ketum) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board KH Yahya Cholil Staquf at the NU Health Institute National Working Meeting in Semarang, Friday (11/8/2023). BETWEEN/HO-PBNU

JAKARTA - Chairman (Ketum) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board KH Yahya Cholil Staquf stated that Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) had never asked for or won positions.

Gus Yahya, as Yahya Cholil Staquf is called, ensures that PBNU will always work together to fight for religious, national and world interests that are not just the interests of organizations or individual interests.

"NU has never asked for it. From the first, our kiai has never offered to take office," said Gus Yahya when opening the NU Health Institute National Working Meeting in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 11.

Since the beginning of independence, said Gus Yahya, NU has never prioritized groups and families. He also said NU always prioritizes the nation and state, such as in the moments of independence.

"In the past, before Indonesia's independence, in the midst of the intense struggle for the preparation of independence with PPKI and BPUPKI, where KH Wahid Hasyim (Gus Dur's father) was the son of Hadratusyech KH Hasyim Asy'ari to become one of the main characters of the 9th committee," he said.

Gus Yahya said that at that time there was a Japanese officer named Naobuharo Ono who was a Muslim.

"He asked Hadratusyech, 'When later Indonesia is completely independent, who according to Kiai deserves to lead this newborn country?'," said Gus Yahya.

"Kiai Hasyim without hesitation replied 'Insinyur Soekarno'. In fact, his own son (KH Wahid Yasyim) is the main character. Why not mention it? Yes, if possible Wahid Hasyim. He without hesitation called Engineer Soekarno," he continued.

According to him, Hadratusyech's firmness was purely because he saw that he was the best to lead Indonesia at that time was Soekarno's Engineer.

"So, NU must always think about what is best in this nation and state, not for NU itself. We don't care where it comes from, the important thing is the best for the nation and state," said Gus Yahya.