Gus Yahya Not Present, Muhaimin Claims To Invite The Chairman Of PBNU To Harlah PKB

Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar greeted the cadres while attending the celebration of the 25th PKB Birthday (Harlah) at Manahan Stadium, Solo

SOLO - Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar emphasized that his party had invited the General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) to attend the peak of the PKB 25th Birthday celebration (Harlah) at Manahan Stadium Solo, Central Java, Sunday evening.

"Everyone was invited," he said after the halalah activity, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, July 23.

According to him, the invitation was for all elements at PBNU. However, in the event which was also attended by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo and a number of general chairmen of the political party, Gus Yahya did not appear to attend.

"I don't know yet, (the invitation to Yahya) is up or not. Later, I will check with the committee. I have ordered to invite them," he continued.

He also mentioned the presence of Katib Aam PBNU Ahmad Said Asrori at the celebration.

Katib aam is a position of kind of secretary general for syuriyah (such as the PBNU legislative council). Gus Yahya previously served as the position.

"Those who come are the katib aam, the secretary (syuriyah), higher (than the General Chair of PBNU) means aam cathotib," said Muhaimin.

On that occasion, Muhaimin also claimed that his relationship with Gus Yahya was fine.

Since Yahya was elected as Chairman of PBNU, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization relationship has been "hot-cold" with PKB, a political party born from the womb of NU.

PKB insists that they cannot be separated from NU, while Yahya and his ranks have repeatedly emphasized that NU is not related to any political camp, including PKB.

Previously, Deputy Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, Sulaeman Tanjung, confirmed that until Saturday, July 22, there were no invitations for Yahya Cholil to attend the 25th PKB Harlah commemoration.

"If someone says the chairman of PBNU is invited to Harlah PKB, that's a hoax. Until now there has been no invitation from PKB," he said.

Meanwhile, the statement of invitation from the PKB was conveyed by the Chairman of the PKB DPR Faction Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal at a press conference on Thursday.