Jember, NU Online
Compared to other radical Islamic organizations, the forming of cadres within the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) milieu was really vulnerable. A number of NU cadres sitting on Senior High Schools (SMU) or Islamic Senior High (MA) didn’t know more about NU though they actively participated in its activities.

“At present, the study about NU is still very little even in Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School),” said NU prominent man, KH Muchod Muzadi to NU Online in Jember, East Java, Tuesday (18/7).

<>Introducing NU to the young people was not easy task due to the limited references about NU and unclear strategy to be introduced to NU followers.

Kiai Muchit said, up to now there has been no such attention to the problem from those who sitting on the central board to sub brunch representative council Board.

He argued that NU should immediately overcome the problem. The introduction to an ideology and Ahlussunnah (wal Jamaah) tenet was a must. He urged the NU followers to be able to implement the ideology. Radical Islamic groups for instance, he added, they could be powerful. That’s why, kiai said, NU as a moderate organization had more chances to do its best. 

According to the elder brother of the General Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), KH Hasyim muzadi, the introduction about NU should seriously be handled especially by such educational institutions, such as NU Ma’arif Educational Institution and Pesantren Association (RMI).

Kiai suggested that the introduction about NU to the students of Islamic and Senior High Schools and Pesantren was really important.

“Alumni of NU pesantrens, but they become activists of radical Islamic groups or otherwise,” kiai added.

Kiai also proposed “the forming of cadres as a main topic discussed in coming Surabaya Assembly (July 27-30)”. (nam)