Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno Calls Islamic Boarding School For The Birth Of National Leaders

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said Islamic boarding school-based education could give birth to new leaders.

He gave an example, the 4th President of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur who is an example of a leader born from an Islamic boarding school education.

Sandiaga Uno said this during Halaqah's activities with the caretaker of the Islamic Boarding School and Akbar's recitation, Marah Sholehah, Central Java, at the Fadhlul Fadhlan Islamic Boarding School, Wonorejo Village, Mijen District, Semarang City.

"This (ponpes) is a pillar of Indonesia's development that produces Islam which is a rahamatan lil alamin," said Sandiaga Uno in front of 4.00 participants quoted on Sunday, January 29.

He said that he had been asked by the Western' about Indonesia in the future. The question is, do Islamic boarding schools and madrasas-based education, which are now increasingly in demand by the public, will Indonesia become a developed and modern country?

"This is a accusation from the West. I answered that education will actually give birth to new leaders. We can see that the leaders of this nation (there are those who come from) pesantren products. The example of the 4th President Gus Dur from Islamic boarding schools. I silence those who are worried about Islamic thinking," continued the former Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta.

In front of the santriwati students, Sandiaga told a story. One of the challenges that happen at the boarding school is the longing for family.

Sandiaga Uno called it a challenge when he studied. Sandiaga had a chance to find a hadith, namely; "Whoever takes a path to find knowledge, then Allah will make it easier for him to go to heaven." (HR Bukhari and Muslim).

Meanwhile, several kyai included politicians from the United Development Party (PPP), including the Secretary General of the PPP DPP Muhamad Arwani Thomafi, Chairman of the Central Java PPP DPW Masrukan Syamsurie to PPP DPC Semarang, Deputy Governor of Central Java Taj Yasin Maimoen was unable to attend, represented by Agus Munawar Shodiq from the Central Java Provincial Government.