Chairman Of PKB Instructs Cadres To Support 2 Candidates For Chairman Of PBNU Said Aqil-Gus Yahya

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Muhaimin Iskandar, has instructed cadres to support the two candidates running for the election of the General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board at the NU Congress in Lampung, 23-25 December. The two candidates are KH Said Aqil Siroj and KH Yahya Cholil Staquf.

"We have instructed all cadres to support both of them," said Muhaimin at the DPR building, Wednesday, December 15.

"Yes, support both," he asserted.

Conditions ahead of the congress in Lampung, the situation within NU began to heat up until the issue of a black campaign emerged.

Regarding this, Muhaimin alias Cak Imin, is not surprised. According to him, ahead of the NU congress, there will be dynamics that will cause a 'commotion'. However, Cak Imin is sure that the competition will end happily.

"It's normal, NU always makes a lot of noise at the congress, yes, but it ends in an uproar, happy-happy. That's just the happy way," said Cak Imin.

As previously reported, KH Said Aqil Siroj finally decided to run again as a candidate for the General Chair of the PBNU at the 34th Congress in Lampung at the end of December. One of the reasons KH Said Aqil stepped forward was the strong encouragement from the elder Kiai and the many requests from regional and branch administrators.

"We have received many requests from senior kiai so that KH Said Aqil Siroj wants to lead the PBNU again," said KH Marsudi Syuhud, the head of the Gathering Forum for Supporting Kiai Said, in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 8.

"Not only that. There are so many requests from regional and branch leaders throughout Indonesia who urge KH Said Aqil Siroj to come forward and immediately respond to requests from old Kiai and regional and branch administrators," continued Marsudi.

Meanwhile, the Regional Management and Branch Managers of Nahdlatul Ulama throughout East Java were united in supporting KH Miftachul Ahyar as Rais Aam PBNU. In addition, he supports KH Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya as the General Chair of PBNU. This is in accordance with the orders of the elderly kiai.

"We have secured the dawuh elder kiai to support and carry KH Miftachul Ahyar as Rais Aam and KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) as the General Chair of PBNU," said the Deputy Chairperson of the East Java PWNU, KH Abdussalam Shohib or Gus Salam on the sidelines of the event, Tuesday, December 14th.