Return NU clerics to their "home"

Surabaya, NU Online
The researcher of religious social organizations, Prof Dr M. Ali Haidar MA, said the appointment of KH Mutawakkil Alallah as the chairman of East Java's NU Regional Board for the period 2008-2009 had an important role in returning NU clerics (kiai) to their "home", namely the ummah (people).

"There is still hope Kiai Mutawakkil would return the role of kiai not to be political bias so that the kiai would pay more attention to the ummah," he said h<>ere over the weekend.

He made the statement following the results of the East Java's NU congress in which both KH MiftachulAkhyar and KH Mutawakkil Alallah were elected as chairmen of the East Java's NU.

At the plenary session led by deputy chairman of the legislative "Syuriyah" council of the Central Board of NU, Prof Dr Masyhuri Naim and vice secretary Taufik R. Abdullah, Ali Maschan gained 17 votes while Mutawakkil won by 20, but kiai Miftach tended to OK Mutawakkil.

Ali Haidar said the organization contract held as principle by the NU congress could be regarded as such good political design for NU to return to the 1926 Khittah (basic principles).

"But the organization contract should always be monitored because Ali Maschan that had formerly signed the contract has involved himself in practical politics," Ali Haidar said.

"Hopefully kiai Miftach (Miftachul Akhyar) would be able to monitor the organization contract, supported by other (NU) board members including NU young cadres," he added.

While kiai Miftachul Akhyar said that NU was deliberately established to improve morality so he considered that the organization contract was a must.

"The ulemas established NU to maintain the nation's morality for that reason NU should be free from any ambition and interest," he said at the congress attended by some NU charismatic figures like KH Muchit Muzadi and KH Abdullah Faqih (leader of Langitan Islamic boarding school). (dar)