Jakarta, NU Online
Vice Chairman of law making body of the country’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Tolchah Hasan said efforts taken by the government, non-government organizations, and other related circles in handling and reducing badly disaster risk should importantly appreciate local culture, tradition, and wisdom.

“This is important to heal psychological shocks suffered by the people for their behavior and attitude are always influenced by conviction, experience, knowledge, and al aadah al muhakkamah) (common-sense customs), he said. 

<>The Former Rector of Malang Islamic University (UNISMA) citied that frameworks and programs of the disaster mitigation by involving people in disseminating new information and in making significant changes related to it may decrease public suspicion.

“To make changes in an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Madura for instance, UNISMA had given scholarship to 18 clerics’ sons. They had been able to make changes in their pesantren after returning to their homeland…So, what we need is a participative leadership rather than coordinative,” kiai Tolchah said.

In regard to the Disaster risk reduction module drafted by the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU),  the Former Minister of Religious Affairs added, It was expected to be such a guide for pesantren’s circles for their close relation to the social surroundings as any disaster happened. (mkf)