By: H. Adlan Daie
Political Analyst; General Secretary of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Indramayu Regency
It is compelling to read the article by H. A. Muhaimin Iskandar—famously known as “Gus Muhaimin”—titled “Questioning NU’s Independence and Sovereignty: Critical Notes on the First NU Congress of the Second Century” (*Jawa Pos – Radar Jombang*, August 26, 2026).
It is compelling because Gus Muhaimin, the author, was not only born and raised within the social ecosystem of NU but is also a key figure at the epicenter of NU’s power; he is the great-grandson of one of NU’s founders, KH Bisri Syansuri, who established the Denanyar Islamic Boarding School in Jombang.
Furthermore, as a minister in President Prabowo’s cabinet, Gus Muhaimin undoubtedly understands the “external” parties that intrude upon the dynamics of the NU Congress—prompting his public questioning of the event’s independence and sovereignty.
Thus, in the context of this 35th NU Congress, the question is not merely about who will eventually be elected *Rais Aam* (Supreme Leader) and General Chairman of PBNU; rather, it is about the strength of the independence and sovereignty with which the Congress—the highest-level gathering for the NU community—is managed.
In other words, there is no need to “glorify” or over-complicate the significance of the 35th NU Congress simply because it is the first of the organization’s second century; the true priority is how to preserve and safeguard NU’s independence as a *jam’iyah* (organization).
Without independence and sovereignty, the NU Congress becomes nothing more than an entertaining spectacle—one that is enjoyable to watch but fails to generate “guiding ideas” for NU’s future as a *jam’iyah*, an Islamic mass organization, and a subculture that profoundly shapes the character of Islam in Indonesia.
This implies that as long as the 35th NU Congress remains beholden to political power interests… …whoever is eventually elected as *Rais Aam* and General Chairman of PBNU will lack the “vigor” to rebound and rediscover NU’s “DNA” as a hub of civil society strength.
Looking back at the “rearview mirror,” the election of Gus Yahya as PBNU General Chairman—and indeed the election of KH Miftahul Akhyar as *Rais Aam* at the 34th NU Congress in Lampung in 2021—was the result of political orchestration driven by the power interests of the incumbent (Jokowi) at the time.
Consequently, under the leadership of *Rais Aam* KH Miftahul Akhyar and General Chairman Gus Yahya, PBNU became “fully political”—acting more like a political party than a civil society organization—as it orchestrated its presence in the public sphere to align with the political interests of those in power.
During this era, PBNU found itself “floating”—adrift without deep-rooted ideas or a solid ideological footing; it was preoccupied with “adjusting” to power dynamics rather than steering the course of civilization, effectively becoming a mere follower of the currents of power.
That is the steep price NU risks paying if the 35th Congress truly loses its independence and sovereignty—as raised by Gus Muhaimin—and becomes increasingly dependent on external resources and the interests of specific political elites.
It now falls to the PWNU (provincial) and PCNU (branch) bodies—who hold the voting mandate at the Congress—to decide: do they possess the resilient mentality demonstrated during the 1994 Congress in Cipasung, or will this 2026 Congress merely be a new variation of the pattern of aligning with the dictates of political power relations?
Let us wait and see—not in the hope that NU becomes a political “opposition,” for NU’s *maqom* (station) lies not in practical politics, but in politics within the spectrum of the *Ummah* (community), the nation, and the state. This is about restoring NU’s “DNA” after the 35th Congress so it may once again serve as a hub of civil society strength.
NU returning to *tawassut* (moderation)… Standing firm at the midpoint between the interests of the state and the interests of the people—striking a balance for the public good and the state. History will record this.
Sincerely,
Indramayu, August 27, 2026
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