Cak Imin: Sorry For Not Coming To PBNU, I Deliberately

PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The general chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) today did not comply with the invitation of the special committee (pansus) formed by the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU). Cak Imin was reluctant to come to PBNU.

"Today I was invited by PBNU through a letter. Well, I'm sorry I didn't come because I didn't come on purpose," said Cak Imin at his official residence, Widya Chandra complex, South Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21.

Due to his absence, Cak Imin wants to emphasize that PKB and PBNU are two different entities. PKB was founded based on Law (UU) Number 2 of 2011 concerning Political Parties. Meanwhile, PBNU was established based on Law Number 17 of 2013 concerning Community Organizations. Thus, Cak Imin hopes that PBNU will not interfere with the management of his party.

"Therefore, I really hope that PBNU will really manage the organization in accordance with constitutional manners and in accordance with constitutional rules, so I apologize that I will not be able to fulfill PBNU's invitation," said Cak Imin.

To the General Chairperson of PBNU Yahya Cholil Staquf and the Secretary General of PBNU Saifullah Yusuf, Cak Imin invited them if they wanted to meet and have a peaceful dialogue. However, the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives did not want PBNU to force him to evaluate his party.

"If you want to convey your aspirations, proposals, please. We can find them well. There is no need to make noise. Or, through branches that will be held on the 24th. Just convey them through branch branches," he explained.

Previously, the Chairman of PBNU Umarsyah regretted Cak Imin's absence from the PKB Special Committee invitation today. From this condition, the PBNU special committee will ask for directions from PBNU Deputy Rais Aam Anwar Iskandar regarding the next steps in efforts to reform PKB which they think have deviated from NU's teachings.

"Actually, we hope that with the presence of Muhaimin today at PBNU, everything has to do with the information we need. But with the absence of Muhaimin, then of course KH Anwar will take the next policy," explained Umarsyah.

Umarsyah explained the factors that made PBNU form a special committee for PKB. During Cak Imin's leadership, PKB was considered to have ruled out the role of the PKB Syuro Council in making party strategic decisions.

In addition, Cak Imin is said to be not transparent to PBNU regarding the accountability of party financial governance. The PBNU Special Committee has also received the green light from Rais Aam to take strategic steps in an effort to improve PKB in the future.

These problems, in fact, want to be confirmed by PBNU. However, Cak Imin decided not to attend.

"His absence certainly does not support PBNU's constructive efforts to make improvements to the PKB party. Even though there are not too many problems that we will raise," explained Umarsyah.