The Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siroj declares the Movement of Nusantara Islamic Economics. He said, it is to form economics independency of Nahdliyin (term of NU members). 

Kiai Said delivered that declaration when he was attending the 45th KH Wahab Chasbullah haul (dead remembrance), in Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School Tambak Beras, Jombang, Saturday (13/08).

The declaration is a form of following up on the result of NU plenary session which was held on 23-25th July in Kempek Islamic Boarding School Cirebon with the theme economics independency. 

This movement, Kiai Said explained, is adopted and inspired by KH Wahab Chasbullah’s idea, Nahdlatut Tujjar, which consists of Islamic traders. 

“Actually this movement has been exist long time ago. Only its spirit is revitalized by the movement.” Kiai Said stressed.

Furthermore, he said, PBNU will urge Nahdliyin and increase their quality to be empowered traders so that their lives will be in prosperity. 

He argued, many Nahdliyin do not tallied government notice, for example islamic boarding school (pesantren). According to him, government never enought allocates the budget to pesantren whereas it has the significant contribution to this country, both before or after independent of this republic.      

By this movement, he added, they are going to be advocated to the entire Nahdliyin traders in order to feel the impact from the government policy, especially in economics sectors.  

“Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board will assemble NU entrepreneurs to join this movement. They deserve to get government’s attention,” he expressed.

“Basically, the formulation (of this movement) is empowering,” he finished. (Ahmad Muchlihson Rochmat/Mukafi Niam)