In The Past, The Cipete Group, Now Internal Conflict Is A Test Of PBNU's Integrity

JAKARTA The largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is facing a tough test. Ahead of the one-century celebration of the establishment of NU in 2028, the NU Executive Board (PBNU) was actually hit by divisions due to internal conflicts.

It all started with the circulation of Circular which was a follow-up to the PBNU Syuriyah Daily Meeting, last November 20 in Jakarta. The results of the meeting asked Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) to resign from the chair of the general chairman within three days of the decision received by the Syuriyah Daily Meeting. If within three days he did not resign, the PBNU Syuriyah Daily Meeting decided to dismiss Gus Yahya.

This circular has an electronic signature of Deputy Rais Aam Afifuddin Muhajir and Katib Ahmad Tajul Mafakhir. "That based on the consideration as referred to in the 2nd item above, then KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf is no longer the General Chair of PBNU starting November 26, 2025 at 00.45 WIB," reads the 3rd grain of the circular letter.

PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf (central) at a press conference at the PBNU office, Central Jakarta, Friday (28/11/2025). ANTARA/Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari.

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

In the next point, it is stated that Yahya Cholil Staquf no longer has the authority and right to use the attributes, facilities, and/or things attached to the position of Chairman of PBNU. In the closing section, it was stated that during the vacancy of the position of chairman of PBNU, the PBNU leadership was entirely in the hands of Rais Aam as the highest leader of Nahdlatul Ulama. Rais Aam PBNU is KH Miftachul Akhyar.

Gus Yahya himself stated that the letter was invalid and emphasized that he was still the chairman of the PBNU. "I am still in my position as general chairman based on the organizational constitution and also based on the recognition of all levels of NU administrators at all levels throughout Indonesia," he said.

Although rare, efforts to eliminate or impeach a PBNU General Chair have indeed occurred. Looking back, precisely in the New Order era, there was also an attempt to remove the General Chairperson of PBNU, which at that time was held by Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur.

In a book containing a collection of stories entitled Crazy Gus Dur published by LKIS, Andree Feillard revealed that while leading NU, Gus Dur could not be separated from internal intrigue and upheaval. Internal conflicts began to occur precisely at the time of the NU National Conference in November 1987 in Cilacap, where Gus Dur faced challenges from those who opposed him.

At that time, there were those who sued Gus Dur's statement about 'assalamu 'alaikum' who could be replaced with 'good morning'. Gus Dur reasoned that the words 'assalamu'alaikum' were more fitting to be used to greet religious events. In fact, Gus Dur's uncle, Kiai Yusuf Hasyim, revealed that Gus Dur's 'good morning' case had been heard reaching Saudi Arabia. But apparently, people don't really care about the case, except for his political opponents Gus Dur.

Kiai Achmad Siddiq, continued Feillard, who was one of Gus Dur's supporters at the National Conference waiting for Gus Dur until the evening, when Gus Dur answered all the attacks he had brought to him during the congress. Gus Dur, turned out to answer brilliantly, and counterattacked intelligently but remained respectful.

After years Gus Dur was accompanied by his loyal colleague in NU, Kiai Achmad Siddiq died on January 23, 1991. A few weeks before Kiai Achmad Siddiq died, the new Order government formed the Indonesian Muslim Cendikiawan Association (ICMI) which changed the political constellation around NU. Gus Dur himself refused to join ICMI, a move that was considered to reduce the power of Islam's legitimacy against President Suharto at that time.

More Coordinated Cipete Group Attack

Gus Dur's refusal raises a big challenge to his leadership in NU. His refusal strengthened the opposition of politicians against Gus Dur as happened earlier at the Cilacap National Conference. Lampung's National Conference in 1992 was a challenge for the second half after Cilacap in an attempt to overthrow Gus Dur.

Kiai Ali Yafie, who is the leader of ICMI, cannot rise to replace Kiai Achmad Siddiq as Rais Aam Syuriyah even though he is in second place in the structure of the highest institutional management in NU. This may be Gus Dur's victory over that tough challenge.

Meanwhile, Greg Barton's version of Gus Dur's Biography reveals that the Cipasung Congress, December 1994, is considered a more coordinated attack on Gus Dur's leadership. At that time, a businessman from Sumatra, Abu Hasan, almost won the competition against Gus Dur under the motto Asal Bukan Gus Dur, thanks to extreme interference.

Abu Hasan seeks to make PBNU a rival known as the Cipete group. Together with ICMI, the Cipete group tried to shift Gus Dur's power as an Islamic figure who was admired at that time. However, again, these efforts failed. Abu Hasan also tried to sue Gus Dur through the court, but again the effort failed.

All these efforts made Abu Hasan bankrupt and stopped tackling Gus Dur. In fact, Abu Hasan finally apologized to Gus Dur in the midst of his bankruptcy and claimed to be the ruler's piece to tackle Gus Dur. It can be said that Gus Dur's refusal to join ICMI and Suharto was indeed very expensive, but Gus Dur managed to survive.

Returning to this time, the Chairman of PBNU, Ulil Abshar Abdalla, said that the current situation was different from the Gus Dur era. Because, in the Gus Dur era, efforts to eliminate came from the ruling external side. Meanwhile, what is happening at this time are actually caused by internal conflicts.

The conditions that appear today are very different and more concerning. In my opinion, the (setting) step is dangerous for organizational traditions. This can be a sunnanah sayyiah' or a bad precedent that shouldn't have started," he said.

"In the New Order era, NU survived, congratulations. Gus Dur was also the chairman of PBNU at that time. I hope NU will be able to return to this internal test and the organization remains solid," concluded Ulil.