Jakarta, NU Online

The central board of Nahdlatul Ulama planned a meeting followed by executive board (tanfidziyah) and supreme council (syuriyah) members after KH Ma’ruf Amin being running mate of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as vice president candidate in the presidential election 2019. NU will discuss organizational consequences related to his position as chief of supreme council (rais aam).

“Yes, we have planned it, but we don’t set the time. We are still waiting for the right time,” said Helmy Faisal Zaini, secretary general of NU to NU Online in NU building, Friday (8/10).

He said, the phenomenon of dual position of NU committees are not new. Previously, it had happened to Khofifah Indar Parawansa who was following gubernatorial election in east Java. 

"It is not only happened to Kiai Ma’ruf, but also to Khofifah. We will discuss it otomatically,” Helmy said. 

This situation regulated in the statutes and bylaws of NU at 33rd NU conference (muktamar) in Jombang (2015)  at the article 51 paragraf 6 chapter XVI about dual position.

Detailed regulations were resulted in national meeting and conference of NU (2017) in Lombok, west Nusa Tenggara at the article 8,9, 10, chapter IV related to dual position in the public or political position.

Jokowi stated that he was ready to run for the second term presidentship. The declaration held at press conference accompanied by general chairman and secretary general of political parties’supporter at Plataran restaurant, at HOS Tjokroaminoto street, Mentang, Central Jakarta, Thursday (8/9 evening.

Jokowi chose Kiai Ma’ruf because of his capacity as a wise ulema and his experience in some governmental positions such as being member of Jakarta assembly, house of representative, people’s consultative council,  presidential advisory council, and the steering committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP). (Husni Sahal/Alhafiz K)