The Story Of Cak Imin Rejected By The Regent Of Tanah Laut Opening MTQ International, Watching Is Not Allowed

PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

JAKARTA - PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin told a chronology of him canceling the Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an (MTQ) International event in Tanah Laut, South Kalimantan.

Cak Imin admitted that he was rejected by the Regent of Tanah Laut to attend the event.

The rejection was allegedly related to Cak Imin's summons by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the alleged corruption case in the procurement of the Indonesian Manpower Protection System (TKI) at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker).

Cak Imin revealed that he was invited by the central leadership of Jami'yyatul Qurra wal-Huffadz which was abbreviated as JQH chaired by Almukarom KH Saifullah Ma'shum. With an agenda plan that has been designed for a long time as the deputy chairman of the DPR RI to open an international level MTQ.

"All the way I came to Tanah Laut, two hours from Banjarmasin, had arrived there suddenly KH Saifullah Ma'shum conveyed to me an apology while crying, that the regent was not pleased and (saying) it was better not to have an event than me who opened it," said Cak Imin at NasDem Tower, Wednesday, September 6.

"I said, yes, if that's the event please take place, I'll just have to watch it. I was there and didn't have to open it. I then prayed then after the prayers, Mr. Kiai Saifullah Ma'shum came back to me, (said) the regent was there too," said Cak Imin.

"Finally, instead of disturbing the event, I saw that the stage was all ready, rather than destroying the event, I stated to Mr. Kiai Saifullah Ma'shum that I was angry because I lost ticket prices from Jakarta to Banjarmasin. I was angry, I asked to be replaced," said Cak Imin.

"Secondly, I was angry, I was really tired to come here. It turned out that until here you didn't clearly invite me. You don't have to invite me," he added.

Cak Imin then told KH Syaifullah to continue the event without him and decided to return to Jakarta. He also emphasized that there was no intimidation for the Regent of Tanah Laut to reject his presence.

"So it should be noted, there is no intimidation at all, everything goes smoothly, no one insists," said Cak Imin.

The vice presidential candidate accompanying Anies Baswedan also asked KH Syaifullah about the reason for the refusal by the regent. The reason, he said, was because the MTQ International event used the APBD even though the event was an event for the PBNU central management.

"I asked Kiai Syaifullah, why did the Regent determine this event so much? This event is a central event, the PBNU central board. The answer is that part of the budget used by the APBD. So it is natural that those who have a budget are not willing, you know, I will pay for it myself," said Cak Imin.