Handling Gus Dur's Tomb When Discussing SBY Museum, Rachlan Nashidik Scolded by Alissa Wahid: Not Using State Funds

National Coordinator of the Gusdurian Network, Alissa Wahid (Photo: HDI / Daniel Bureau)

JAKARTA - Democratic Party politician Rachland Nashidik was criticized by the daughter of 4th President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, Alissa Wahid, for saying that the construction of her father's grave used state funds.

Rachland mentioned this in a tweet on @RachlandNashidik. Initially, Rachland Nashidik discussed the construction of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) Museum in Pacitan.

The Provincial Government of East Java is known to have poured out grants of IDR 9 billion for development.

Rachland then compared it with Gus Dur's meal at the Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School complex.

"First, it is not a family museum. Second, the funding initiative came from the provincial government, it was only part of it. The biggest part came from donations and citizen participation. Third, as a comparison, you know that President Gus Dur's tomb was built by the state", he tweeted.

Allisa Wahid then denied that the construction of her father's grave was funded by the state.

"State funds are not for graves but for roads, land for selling residents. Understandably, there are 1.5 to 2 million pilgrims every year. The country takes care of this", tweeted Alissa @AlissaWahid.

Bang @RachlanNashidik, the tomb of #GusDur until now has been funded by the Ciganjur family, including the inscription. PP Tebuireng also respects this. The State Fund is not for graves but for roads, land for selling by residents. Understandably, there are 1.5-2 million pilgrims every year. State take care of this. https://t.co/uPXNYw1Wzy

- Alissa Wahid (@AlissaWahid) February 20, 2021

For Alissa's explanation, Rachland apologizes. He said that his statement came from the mass media coverage. What he wanted to convey was that the state gave an award to Gus Dur so as to provide facilities for citizens who wanted to make pilgrimages.

Well, netizens who see the tweet without re-reading the included news link may interpret it differently. "I apologize", he said.