Call Choosing AMIN Bid'ah', Gus Yaqut And Cak Imin Are Considered To Be Involved In 'Stubborn' Competition

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - A political observer from Al Azhar Indonesia University Andriadi Achmad highlighted the joke of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas or Gus Yaqut who said choosing AMIN was a bid'ah.

According to him, there is a 'complainted' competition between the two Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) figures.

"In my view, there is a 'complainted' competition between Cak Imin as chairman of PKB and Gus Yaqut as general chairman of GP Anshor," Andriadi said when contacted, Saturday, September 16.

As is known, PKB is one of the political parties founded by the Sepuh Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) kiai and led by Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur.

Meanwhile, GP Anshor is an NU youth wing organization. The two institutions play a very role and exist in the context of the community and nationality.

However, the executive director of the Nusantara Institute PolCom SRC did not reveal what kind of competition between the two had occurred.

Andriadi also considered that Yaqut's joke was a strong signal that it would not support the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) pair in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Although, said Andriadi, currently Yaqut is the minister of religion representing PKB.

Previously, Yaqut served as a member of the PKB faction of the DPR RI for the 2019-2024 period.

"Actually, it is only natural that there is an internal rift in political parties in the support of the 2024 presidential election, such as Yaqut's actions not supporting the Anies-Muhaimin coalition. However, in my opinion, there must be firm action from political parties when there are cadres, especially since the status of political party functionaries is not in line with the support of their political parties in the presidential election," he said.

"The latest is the dismissal of Budiman Sudjatmiko from PDIP after the declaration of supporting Prabowo's reading of President Prabowo," added Andriadi.

Nevertheless, Andriadi sees, Cak Imin is optimistic that all of his cadres will be total to win the AMIN pair.

"From Cak Imin's statement, PKB and ulama are ready to all go out to win the AMIN pair. Even though there are ripples within the PKB, such as the phenomenon of Gus Yaqut's ranks that do not support the Anies-Muhaimin pair," he said.

Regarding Cak Imin who would not reprimand Yaqut, Andriadi suspected that it was only a personal attitude.

Especially as the leader of GP Ansor, Yaqut's mass base is also large for PKB votes.

"Personally, of course, it will not give a warning only to Gus Yaqut that he has not declared support for one of the presidential candidates. But if he has stated support other than the AMIN pair, I am sure there will definitely be firm action on behalf of political parties," he concluded.

Previously, the General Chairperson of the PKB as well as the vice presidential candidate for the Change Coalition for Unity (KPP), Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin, refused to respond to the joke of the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas about choosing AMIN as a bid'ah.

"Does it need to be responded to? There is no need to respond," said Cak Imin, quoted on Friday, September 15.

According to Cak Imin, Yaqut's statement about supporting the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair, which abbreviated as AMIN, was a bid'ah, had no substance.

"There is no substance," he said.

Cak Imin will also not give a warning for the words of the Minister of Religion Yaqut, who is known to be one of the PKB cadres.

The deputy chairman of the DPR assessed that Yaqut's joke was part of democratic freedom.

"Democracy is like that, anyone's freedom can say anything. It's a political choice, everyone has a political choice," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has explained the joke that choosing AMIN means heresy.

According to him, there is nothing wrong with the joke.

"Why is the joke news why? I ask again why is it news? It's not a joke, there's my Head of the Agency, Mr. Amin Suyitno, where's the fault?" Yaqut explained at the DPR Building, Thursday, September 14.

Yaqut then asked if there was a presidential candidate with the name AMIN. He didn't even know that AMIN was an acronym for the Anies-Cak Imin pair.

"Oh, I just found out from you that (AMIN Anies-Cak Imin), I don't know that," he said.