Puan Maharani-Ketum PBNU Yahya Cholil Holds Meeting, Observer: Evidence That Puan Is Close To NU

General Manager General Manager of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Yahya Cholil Staquf (right) with the Head of DPR Puan Maharani/Antara

JAKARTA - Political observer Emrus Sihombing believes that the meeting between the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, and the General Chair of the PBNU Yahya Cholil Staquf on Tuesday, March 15, shows the closeness between Puan and the organization.

"As statesmen, Ms. Puan and the leadership of NU show Puan Maharani's closeness to Nahdlatul Ulama. Because psychologically there will be no meeting if there is no closeness," Emrus said in a statement in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, March 16.

He considered that in the future, NU and Puan could have the same political line regarding the development of the nation and state. Emrus explained that the similarity of these political lines is national politics to build the nation and state.

"I think this is a sign for Puan who is a figure and leader in the legislature who is close to community and religious organizations such as the meeting on Tuesday, March 15," he said.

Therefore, according to him, the Puan-Gus Yahya meeting was very positively welcomed for national harmony.

Political observer at Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, said that the meeting between Puan and PBNU leaders answered the dichotomy between nationalists and Islam.

"There is a lot of resistance from nationalist and Islamic groups. Puan wants to show that 'I am a nationalist representative, so we are also close to Islamic groups'," he said.

Ujang assessed that through the meeting, Puan had gained the right momentum in a number of national political discourses. He welcomed the meeting positively because it showed the closeness between nationalists and Islamic groups.

Previously, the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, held a friendship by visiting the General Chair of PBNU Yahya Cholil Staquf at the PBNU Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, March 15.

During the meeting, Puan was accompanied by the Deputy Chair of the MPR as well as the Chair of the PDIP DPP Ahmad Basarah and the Chair of the DPR RI Budget Agency (Banggar) Said Abdullah who is also the Chair of the PDIP DPP.