NU to remain neutral in upcoming presidential election

Bengkulu, NU Online
General chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Nahdlatul Ulama KH Hasyim Muzadi said here wednesday that Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia`s largest Muslim mass organization, will remain neutral in the upcoming presidential election.

"NU as an organization will stick to its own principle and remain neutral with regard to the presidential election by not siding with any political party," Hasyim said as dedicating a regional Bengkulu NU office.<>

He said NU would let its members decide for themselves which candidate they would support.

Regarding clerics who individually or in groups supported one of the candidates, Muzadi said it was alright so long as it was done according to their conscience and sense of responsibility.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that "voters are also responsible for where the country will be led, besides the president-elect."

He said NU clerics in general preferred Jusuf Kalla but many of them also supported Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"I think the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto pair and NU have emotional ties and shared feelings and therefore many NU clerics support them," he said.

Asked about his personal choice, Muzadi declined to comment. About possibility of a split occurring in NU after the election because of differing choices among its clerics, he said he was optimistic it would not happen.

"I am sure no divisions will happen among clerics before or after the election," he said. (dar)