Beda Sikap Said Aqil Siroj: Dulu Mendukung, Kini Menentang Konsesi Tambang untuk Nahdlatul Ulama

JAKARTA - The concession of mines for religious organizations has been a controversial issue. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, which have no experience in preparing to manage mines. The narrative provoked criticism and condemnation. However, Said Aqil Siroj saw it differently.

The NU figure considers that mining concessions are worth giving to NU and other religious organizations. All of this is because of the track record of the nation-loving and state-loving organizations. Later Said shook his stance. He saw that the mine for NU brought more harm than benefits.

NU was once known as a religious organization that was at odds with the New Order government. Instead of approaching the government, NU under the authority of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) often opposed all kinds of injustices.

The difference emerged when NU showed its support for Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the 2014-2019 presidential election contest. That support did manage to bring Jokowi to power for two terms.

NU got a profit. Jokowi has placed many NU figures in the government from the level of commissioner to minister. The peak of the closeness of NU and the ruler occurred at the 34th NU Congress in Lampung in December 2021.

President Jokowi specifically came to pay tribute to NU. Jokowi considers NU not only working to educate the nation's children, but NU's younger generation can actually improve the living conditions of the Indonesian people.

Jokowi also promised the NU youth to manage mining, plantation, and agricultural business permits (IUP). Jokowi's promise is not just empty words. Jokowi will immediately implement the ormas to manage the mining concession in 2024.

He revised Government Regulation (PP) Number 96 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities into PP Number 25 of 2024 on May 30, 2024. Jokowi's action was also criticized by many parties. However, NU figure Said Aqil Siroj has his own views.

Mining concessions should be given to religious organizations that have great services for the nation and state. Ormas is not only a matter of worship, but can also create independence through mining business.

"That this organization (NU) which stood before independence, has great merit, great merit. Even the heroes of the Islamic organization are very many, there are from NU, Muhammadiyah and other organizations. We (the organization) always deal with worship. Never got the spoils of war in the era of independence," said the Chairman of the PBNU in 2010-2021, Said Aqil Siroj as quoted by the lamantempo.co, July 2, 2024.

The tone of protest against religious organizations that manage mines continues to be present. The government's investigation of granting mining concessions is considered a silent religion of the critical power of religious organizations. Not to mention that religious organizations such as NU and Muhammadiyah, their corridor is religion, not mining.

Said also changed his mind. He used to be able to support the community to manage the mine. Later he saw for himself that the mining concession was a matter of contention between NU officials. This condition was disturbing the existence of PBNU.

Internal conflicts also spread due to mining concessions. He proposed that NU return to its sacred duty: education and worship. Not busy fighting for mining concessions. As a result, he suggested that NU return the mining concessions to the government on December 6, 2025.

He saw that the mining concession brought a lot of harm to NU, rather than benefits. Efforts to restore the mining concession were considered the most reasonable option. A thing that makes NU able to return to running in the right corridor.

He saw that the scramble for mining concessions had brought chaos and stained the organization's khitah. Said's proposal was not immediately accepted. Many NU leaders considered mining concessions to be a government gift that should be appreciated.

NU must be able to make the most of the mining concession. Even if NU then becomes the monthly criticism of all Indonesian people.

"I have respected the government's initiative from the beginning. That is a good form of appreciation. But seeing what has happened recently, the conflict is widening, and it brings greater harm than its benefits. "

"So the best way is to return it to the government. If an affair brings more harm, then leave it. Return it so that NU can focus on its sacred duties," said Said Aqil as quoted by the CNN Indonesia website, December 10, 2025.