PWNU Lampung Firmly Lines Up With PBNU's Decision Regarding The 2024 General Election

Photo Archives: Chairman of the Tanfidziyah Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Management (PWNU) Lampung Puji Raharjo. (ANTARA/Dian Hadiyatna)

The Lampung Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Management (PWNU) confirmed that it would hear and obey or "Sami'na wa Atho'na" with the decision of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board regarding the upcoming 2024 General Election. "PBNU prohibits the use of NU symbols or symbols for personal interests in order to maintain NU neutrality. We (PWNU Lampung) are perpendicular to the PBNU policy," said Chairman of Tanfidziyah, Lampung Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Management (PWNU) Puji Raharjo in Bandarlampung, Antara, Sunday, September 10. In fact, he said, PWNU Lampung had instructed the Nahdlatul Ulama (PCNU) Branch Management in districts and cities to listen and obey PBNU's decision. "The instructions of PWNU Lampung to PCNU are straight line with PBNU, sami'na wa atho'na, that NU stands above all else," he said. Thus, continued Puji, nahdliyin can channel his political aspirations in any party by carrying out the great mission of NU based on the basic principles of the nation and state, namely Pancasila, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, NKRI, and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. "The Nahdlatul Ulama politician is national politics. The safety of the nation and the future of the nation are the most important of all, so we hope that the elected leaders will be truly able to bring Indonesia to a better direction by upholding the values of togetherness and unity," he said. Puji reiterated that NU as a religious community organization (ormas) is not practical in politics. "Political contestation is a contest between political parties, while NU is a religious organization. This is what we must understand together. As a religious organization, NU is more focused on fostering people and empowering the community rather than being directly involved in politics," he said. The existence of NU is not only a religious mass organization, but also a social forum that affects various aspects of people's lives, ranging from education, social, to culture. Namun begitu, Puji melihat suara nahdliyin selalu menjadi prima donna dalam agenda politik sekali tahun itu, mengingat jumlah nahdliyin yang sangat signifikan di Indonesia.

"So NU is neutral like ASN in the 2024 election. Therefore NU does not have an agenda to nominate or support certain candidates in the general election," he said.