Yogyakarta, NU Online
Deputy General Chairman of the Advisory Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Mustafa Bisri (Gus Mus) exhorted clerics and pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) circles not to be trapped by direct regional leadership elections (pilkada).<>

The country's outstanding Muslim scholar also urged the clerics and pesantren circles to "walk in the light" and play their role as the nation's moral guardians instead of involving themselves in any instrumental roles by, for instance, becoming the members of success team of a certain candidate pair in the elections.

Gus Mus made the remarks at a workshop taking up issues on "Pesantren and the Nation's Moral Crisis" organized by the Majma' Buhuts al- Nahdliyyah in Magelang, Central Java, on Sunday (19/10).

According to the leader of Rembang's Pesantren Raudlatut Thalibin, in the midst of widespread corruption by government officials, the clerics' role as the guardians of morality is much awaited and questioned critically, whether it be the solution or even part of the nation's problem.

Gus Mus said, the current national situation had really been in crisis due to acts of corruption and abuse of power committed by executive and legislative, and Judicial offials.

Poor law enforcement is a sign of the community to meet a destruction. Various emerging cases have also indicated possible attempts to wipe out the good people in this country, he said.

The forum was attended by approximately 40 Muslim scholars from Yogyakarta and the Kedu residency, Central Java. Majma' Buhust al- Nahdiyyah is a discussion forum established by KH Mustafa Bisri (Rembang) and KH Mahfudz Ridwan (Salatiga), which focuses on the NU, pesantren and national issues

Present also at the occasion were KH Abdul Ghofur Maimun (Sarang), KH Yahya Cholil Tsaquf (Rembang), KH Mahfudz (Maron), and KH Mu'adz Thohir (Pati), KH Said , KH Aziz , and Dr Thonthowi (Magelang), KH Asyhari Abta, KH Mu'tashim Billah, Dr. Abdul Ghofur Waryono, Dr Sahiron Syamsuddin, and Kiai Jadul Maula (Yogyakarta), KH Muzammil (Bantul), KH Masduqi Mahfudz, KH Dr Tamyiz Mukharrom KH, KH Abdullah Hasan (Sleman), KH Munir (Kota Gede), Muhammad Mustafied (Mlangi), and dozens of other young clerics.

Reporting by Dwi Khoirotun Nisa'; Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq