Jakarta, NU Online
Deputy Secretary-General of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Adnan Anwar called on the Nahdliyin (NU followers) to be careful in addressing symbolic political maneuvers launched by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).<>

Adnan made the statement following the visit of the party's president, Anis Matta, to hold 'tahlil' prayers (special prayers for the dead) to the grave of Sunan Kalijaga in Kadilangu, Demak, Central Java on Wednesday (3/4).

Adnan said Anis Matta, a graduate of the Islamic and Arabic Sciences Institute (LIPIA), an institute under the auspices of the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University Riyadh Saudi Arabia, had made political maneuvers.

"It was a politics of deception," Adnan told NU Online here on Wednesday.

Adnan added that the PKS politician performed the NU practices solely to gain the sympathy and win votes when the image of PKS is damaged following a beef imports bribery scandal involving the party's president Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq. The scandal has marked the start of a dark episode for the country’s biggest Islamic party.

Adnan said that the bribery case would of course damage the party's reputation that has long preached its freedom from corruption in addition to leading the public to the conclusion that the PKS is just as corrupt as any other party.

He called on the Nahdliyin to be careful in representing their political aspirations to political parties which have clear principles, policies, and history.

"Never be fooled by the party that finally considers the Aswaja traditions and belief systems as bid'ah (religious innovation).

Anis replacing Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq following his resignation as the PKS chairman, is expected to restore the party’s credibility in the wake of a corruption scandal analysts said would deal a major blow to the Islamic-based party ahead of the 2014 elections. He said he would resign from the House and would focus on his new role.

Analysts, however, have doubts whether Anis is up to the job due to his questionable track record. He was accused of complicity in a bribery case surrounding deliberations over the 2011 Regional Infrastructure Adjustment Fund (DPID).

Wa Ode Nurhayati, the main suspect in the case, accused him of abusing his power to smooth the graft-riddled disbursement of DPID funds totaling Rp 6.3 trillion (US$648.9 million). Anis, who was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with the case, has always denied the allegations.

In 2011, Yusuf Supendi, one of the party’s founders, reported Anis and Luthfi to the House ethics council and to the KPK for alleged graft.

Yusuf accused Luthfi of misappropriating donations from the Middle East for his personal use when serving as the party’s treasurer and lashed out at Anis for allegedly embezzling Rp 10 billion from the Rp 40 billion campaign fund donated by Adang Daradjatun to the PKS during the previous Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq