Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar Addresses Rumors of Being PDIP’s Candidate for Vice President

CNN Indonesia

Sunday, May 21 2023 23:50 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nazaruddin Umar raised his voice regarding the news that he was on the radar of the cawapres exchange PDIP to be paired with Bacapres Ganjar Pranowo.

When asked if he was asked to accompany the governor of Central Java as vice presidential candidate, Nasaruddin admitted that he had the habit of praying istikharah before making a decision.

“I usually when dealing with a problem, this is my personal tradition. I like to finish it with the istikharah prayer. Which is the best we ask Allah, but I haven’t prayed istikharah frankly,” said Nasaruddin at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta, Sunday (21/ 5).

Regarding his meeting with Ganjar in Manado, North Sulawesi, last Thursday (18/5), he said that the moment was just an ordinary halal bihalal. He claimed to communicate with all parties.

He also claimed to be still active as a servant of the people. When asked that the statement “Enjoy taking care of the people” was a message to reject PDIP’s offer, he said there had been no invitation.

“I avoid popularity. I like to work behind the scenes. Rejecting is right if there is an invitation. Do you want or not? No? Well, for me, there is no invitation yet. What do you want to refuse? For me, I will work as a servant of the people ,” he said.

He also gave his response when asked whether the istikharah prayer he meant was waiting for Rais Aam Miftachul Akhyar’s approval to become Ganjar’s vice presidential candidate. Nasaruddin reiterated that he had not thought about becoming Ganjar’s vice presidential candidate.

“No. I’ve never been there. I don’t even know where this discussion came from,” he said.

“Therefore, I continue to work as it is, because there really isn’t any progress yet. So, I don’t know anything behind it, why suddenly something like this happened, huh?”

However, Nasaruddin admitted that he had communicated with various parties, including the NasDem Party and the Golkar Party. According to him, all political party leaders are friends with him.

“Yes, I was invited to Halal Bihalal by our friends in the NasDem Party, I was also invited to Golkar, I was invited. All political parties have invited me because all the leaders are my friends, right,” he said.

Even though he emphasized that there had been no invitation from the banteng party, Nassarudin would see the progress of the PDIP in the future. However, he admits that he is more comfortable with himself now as the high priest at the Istiqlal Mosque.

“Yes, we’ll see. Anyway, until today nothing [ajakan]so I think I will continue to be myself, my personality as it is now,” said Nasaruddin.

He admits that working for the people is enough for him. Nasaruddin also admitted that he never intended to become Ganjar’s vice presidential candidate. According to him, enjoying the works that are positively embraced by the nation is enough for him.

“For me, working on how to create a more peaceful nation because my principle is that it is impossible for a nation to excel if the people are in conflict. We have a responsibility to unite the Indonesian people so that they can create greater achievements in the future,” he said.

(psr/has)