JAKARTA - Ahead of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress, which is scheduled to take place in July-August 2026, the issue of the integrity crisis in the Nahdlatul Ulama General Board (PBNU) has emerged and is considered potentially undermining public confidence in the largest religious organization in Indonesia.
NU young figure, Khalilur R Abdullah Sahlawiy or Gus Lilur, emphasized that the muktamar should not merely be a forum for leadership change, but rather a momentum to restore the moral direction of the organization.
"If you just change people without changing values, it's not an update, but a repetition of old problems. The congress must be an arena for moral correction," Gus Lilur said in his statement, Thursday, April 23.
NU previously will start the series of Muktamar with the National Consultative Meeting (Munas) and the Great Conference (Konbes) in April 2026. Rais Aam PBNU Miftachul Akhyar called this agenda as an effort to "open a new page" of the organization's journey.
However, according to Gus Lilur, the new page only means if it is accompanied by a firm integrity standard in the leadership regeneration process.
He introduced the Abuktor principle (Asal Bukan Koruptor) as a minimum limit in determining future PBNU leadership candidates.
"NU is not just an organization, but a network of social trust for the people. If integrity collapses, what is damaged is not only the structure, but also public trust," he said.
Gus Lilur menilai, saat ini PBNU menghadapi krisis kepercayaan yang salah satunya dipicu oleh isu tata kelola haji, mulai dari kuota, katering, pemondokan, hingga layanan jamaah. Meski proses hukum masih berjalan, ia menyebut dampaknya sudah terasa pada persepsi publik.
"In this context, the managers who are suspected or dragged into corruption practices ethically do not have a strong basis to continue their leadership," he said.
In addition, he also highlighted the potential for money politics in the process leading up to the Muktamar. According to him, the use of resources to buy support will only damage the dignity of the ulama forum.
"If the Muktamar changes into a transaction arena, NU loses its soul. That must be prevented," he said.
On the other hand, Gus Lilur responded to the dynamics of group consolidation, including the encouragement of PMII alumni to take a strategic role in PBNU. He assessed that the involvement of various groups was legitimate, as long as it did not ignore the principle of integrity.
"Please anyone, from PMII, HMI, GMNI, even from outside NU, if you have a commitment and want to serve. The important thing is one: clean and have integrity," he said.
According to him, the approach of meritocracy must be prioritized in determining the leadership of NU in the future, not only the background of the organization or political closeness.
"The 2026 Muktamar must be a turning point to restore public confidence and reaffirm NU as a moral force," he said.
Gus Lilur emphasized that without a commitment to integrity, NU risks losing its social legitimacy, which has been its main foundation.
"So before talking about who is leading, make sure one thing first: the leader is clean. Abuktor is not a slogan, but the minimum requirement," he concluded.
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