Anwar Iskandar Becomes MUI General Chair To Replace Miftachul Akhyar

The Central Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) building in Central Jakarta. (ANTARA-Anom P)

JAKARTA - Anwar Iskandar was appointed as General Chairperson (Katum) of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) replacing Miftachul Akhyar after being decided at a plenary meeting at the Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday 15 August. Chairman of the Plenary Meeting Committee MUI Rofiqul Umam Ahmad said, after the decision was made at the plenary meeting, the decision would be taken to the MUI plenary meeting. "The plenary meeting of Plenary Body appointed Mr. KH Anwar Iskandar as the General Chair of the MUI replacing Miftachul Akhyar who resigned," said Rofiqul Umam in his statement, Tuesday, August 15, confiscated by Antara.

The plenary meeting was a meeting attended by the MUI Advisory Council, the MUI Leadership Council, as well as the Chair and Secretary of the Commission, Agency, and Institutions under the MUI. The member of the MUI Advisory Council consists of the leadership of the central level of Islamic mass organizations in Indonesia. In the plenary meeting, the appointment of Anwar Iskandar as the General Chair of the MUI was based on a proposal from Miftachul Akhyar. PBNU also agreed that the replacement for Miftachul Akhyar was Anwar Iskandar. Apart from being an elderly figure at PBNU, Anwar Iskandar also occupied the Deputy Chair of the MUI Advisory Council.

Later, Anwar Iskandar will continue his service period of Miftachul Akhyar until 2025. So far, the MUI leadership is under the control of three Deputy General Chairmen of the MUI which are divided into each field. The three Deputy General Chairmen of the MUI are Anwar Abbas, Marsudi Syuhud, and Basri Bermanda.

This replacement occurred because Miftachul Akhyar had submitted his resignation letter moments after he was re-elected as Rais Aam, the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU). The discussion regarding the figure of Miftachul's replacement has also been tough, until today it was decided by Anwar Iskandar as the new MUI Chair.