Distracted With PKB, Will NU Return To PPP?

JAKARTA - The relationship between the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) and the National Justice Party (PKB) is said to be strained after KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf or familiarly called Gus Yahya was elected as Chairman of PBNU.

Now, PBNU seems to be getting closer to the United Development Party (PPP). The closeness was re-knitted after the Chairman and Secretary General of PBNU attended the commemoration of the 49th anniversary of PPP which was held at the Al-Hikam Islamic Boarding School, Malang, last Sunday, March 27.

Recently, PPP Chairman Suharso Monoarfa's turn to meet at the residence of PBNU Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar at the Miftachussunah Islamic Boarding School, in Surabaya, Saturday, April 16, evening. The two-hour gathering since 20.30 WIB was warm and welcoming.

Reportedly, KH Miftachul Akhyar in the meeting discussed NU, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to the history of the boarding school he founded, namely the Miftachussunnah Islamic Boarding School. Miftachul in a press statement received by journalists in Jakarta on Sunday, April 17, yesterday.

The man who is familiarly called Kiai Miftah said that PPP has a duty to care for Muslims, one of which is NU. However, he denied that the meeting discussed practical political issues.

"We have a large community, it's also PPP's obligation to take care of the people. If we take good care of it, it's automatic. We're talking about leadership, the people, where we can improve quality. There's no talking about politics, just talking about leaders, people, how people are getting smarter," said Kiai Miftah, who is also the son-in-law of Sheikh Masduqi from the Al Islah Islamic Boarding School Lasem Rembang.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Suharso Monoarfa admitted that the meeting was intended to ask for advice and prayers from Rais Aam PBNU KH Miftachul Akhyar, especially during Ramadan.

"Just getting in touch, to share views, opinions and I think learning is what, I want to know his views to enforce our sharia in the future," said Suharso.

As well as discussing about Indonesia and what a good Indonesian leader will look like in the future.

"Then about Indonesia in the future, what kind of a good leader in the future (next) will it look like, so we can continue the relationship," said Suharso.

Suharso also received a book prize by KH Miftachul Akhyar "Al-Inhadl". The General Chairperson of PPP and his entourage were also treated to dinner by Rais Aam PBNU KH Miftachul Akhyar with a menu of middle eastern food.

During the visit, Suharso was accompanied by a number of party functionaries such as PPP Secretary General Arwani Thomafi, Sharia Council Secretary KH Chaerul Soleh Rosyid, PPP DPP Chair Gus Hakim Hasyim Muzadi, East Java PPP DPW Secretary Habib Salim Qurays, Surabaya PPP DPC Chair, PPP DPC Chairperson Gresik Khoirul Huda, Chairman of the PPP DPC Pasuruan Gus Aziz Idris Hamid, KH Nasirul Mahasin (Gus Baha's older brother) and Chairman of GMPI A. Fikri Hidayat. The visit of the General Chairperson of PPP to NU figures complemented the previous momentum with the presence of the General Chairperson of PBNU KH Yahya C. Staquf together with the Secretary General of PBNU Gus Saifullah Yusuf and a number of PBNU administrators who were present at the PPP ceremony in Malang. NU Has a Role in the Establishment of PPP

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), apart from being a community organization, was also a political party during the Old Order era. Entering the Suharto regime, in 1973 to be precise, NU was merged into PPP as a fusion of Islamic parties. The NU element had a fairly decisive position in the early days of PPP's existence. However, since 1984, NU has declared itself to "return to the 1926 khittah" so that it leaves the practical political arena. However, when Suharto collapsed and the Reformation Era began, there was a great desire for nahdliyyin citizens to return to having a place to channel political aspirations. However, PBNU must be careful because NU can no longer be directly related to practical politics, including political parties, according to the results of the 27th Congress in Situbondo in 1984. In the end, a number of NU figures including Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, Mustofa Bisri, etc. declared the establishment of the PKB as a forum for these aspirations. However, PKB is not an official NU political party institutionally. In its development, there was a dualism within PKB which resulted in the expulsion of Gus Dur by Muhaimin who incidentally was his nephew. Then, Muhaimin's version of PKB was later recognized by the state as a "legitimate" PKB.

After the election of KH Yahya Cholil Tsaquf, Muhaimin alias Cak Imin began to get restless. It was even assessed that PBNU wanted to break away from the shadow of the PKB.

So is meeting after meeting a signal for PBNU to return to PPP?