Malang, NU Online
Chairman of the East Java's Maarif NU Prof. Dr. KH. Abdul Haris called for the importance of propagating the values having so far been voiced by the late KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur).
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"It is important to commemorate a prominent figure like Gus Dur. But, the more important thing is how we could materialize his ideas and principles to address the need of creating peace in society," he told NU Online here on Tuesday (29/12).

According to Kiai Haris, Gus Dur's ideas littered fully with such principles as humanitarianism, justice, egalitarianism, and so fourth are such a must for Indonesia as a country recofnized for its different cultures and systems of belief.

He also called on the Nahdliyin (NU followers) to keep preserving other Gus Dur's brilliant ideas such as freedom, brotherhood, modesty, heroism, and traditional wisdom.

"We have lost our teacher and he is a leader who will live on in the memory of ours for a long time," Kiai Haris said, adding that all the Gus Dur's ideals were dynamic and would be in line with the changing times.

Although Gus Dur himself was a prominent cleric of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), he is remembered not only by those within the NU,  but also by diverse groups. (masdar)