Semarang, <em><strong>NU Online</strong></em><br /> As the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has nothing to do with the call for <em>golput</em> (abstaining from voting) in the 2009 legislative and presidential elections as voiced by Indonesian former president KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) recently.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> "As part of responsible citizens, NU would of course not call for the <em>golput</em>. Rather it call on the citizens to use their voting right as good as possible," general chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Hasyim Muzadi said here over the weekend.<><br /> <br /> On the sidelines of a Regional Work Meeting (Muskerwil) of the Central Java's NU Regional Board at Wahid Hasyim University, Semarang, Hasyim said that Gus Dur's call for <em>golput</em> was such a personal statement and could only be understood by Gus Dur himself rather than NU as an institution.<br /> <br /> "That (call for the <em>golput</em>) is (voiced) Gus Dur rather than NU so ask him," Hasyim told reporters in dealing with the aim of Gus Dur calling on people to abstain from voting.<br /> <br /> Formerly, Rais Aam (general chairman of legislative council) of PBNU KH Sahal Mahfudz called on Nahdliyin (NU followers) in particular and Indonesian citizens in general to participate in regional, legislative and presidential elections to be held next year and use their voting right as good as possible.<br /> <br /> "PBNU remains suggest that elections in the frame of <em>nasbul imamah</em> (electing leaders) are <em>fardhul kifayah</em> (communal obligations). I appeal not to be <em>golput</em>. If there are journalists here please write (my statement) because <em>golput</em> is in contradiction with the principle of <em>fardhu kifayah</em>," said Kiai Sahal at a <em>halal bihalal</em> meeting held by PBNU recently. (nam)

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