PBNU Caketum's Conditions Not Decided, 99 Votes Support as a Reference

JAKARTA - The conditions for support to run as a candidate for the General Chair of the Nahdlatul Ulama General Board have not been determined. The provisions will only be decided in the discussion of the muktamar rules of procedure.

PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf said the 99 votes have often been the reference for minimum support for prospective candidates. However, this number can still change according to the agreement of the muktamar participants.

"It has not been determined. Later, during the discussion of the rules of procedure, the discussion will be carried out. Usually supported by a minimum of 99 votes, maybe more or less, it depends," said Saifullah Yusuf at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

The man, who is familiarly called Gus Ipul, said that 99 votes were not the number that had been decided for the upcoming congress. The final decision is in the hands of forum participants.

"But usually the standard is 99 votes," he said.

Discussion regarding the candidate for chairman of the general election was strengthened after the emergence of the discourse on the need for a new leader in PBNU. Gus Ipul assessed that this view could be the material for discussion ahead of the muktamar.

According to him, NU does not lack cadres to lead the organization. Muktamirin will later determine whether to retain the old general chairman or choose a new figure.

"This is the right time to think about whether the muktamirin wants to choose the old or the new," he said.

Gus Ipul menilai pergantian kepemimpinan merupakan proses biasa dalam organisasi. Figur lama dapat digantikan kader baru, sebelum pada waktunya kembali terjadi pergantian.

"The old one is replaced, the new one comes. The new one will be replaced again. That's the usual regeneration process," he said.

He also did not know whether the Minister of Religion would run as a candidate for the General Chair of PBNU. According to Gus Ipul, the certainty needs to be asked directly to the person concerned.