Tulungagung's education office apologizes to Gus Dur's family

Jombang, NU Online
District Education Office of Tulungagung went to Tebuireng Islamic boarding school (pesantren) Jombang East Java on Monday (17/12). They apologized to the family of the late President KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) following the circulation of Student Worksheets (LKS) which was considered an insult to Gus Dur.<>

"Consciously, we, from the District Education Office of Tulungagung did apologize to the family of (the late) Gus Dur over the LKS circulation which was considered insulting (Gus Dur)," said Bambang Setya Sukarjono, chairman of the District Education Office.

Bamabang and his entourage were accompanied by autonomous bodies of the country's largest Muslim organization such as the Brach Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PCNU) of Tulungagung, Ansor Youth Movement, Fatayat NU and Nahdlatul Ulama Student Association (IPNU).

Bambang admitted the negligence of his men who are not careful in dealing with the worksheets in which there are misleading statements in regard with Gus Dur.

"We've asked the LKS to be revoked and must be soon be improved. Because it's not only related to president Gus Dur but also Megawati and Habibie," he said.

Similarly, member of PCNU, Ahyak, said there was an agreement with the District Education Office of Tulungagung to revise the history books currently available.

"We do not want our generation to damage the good name of the nation's leaders, not only President Abdurrahman Wahid, but also Soekarno, Habibie and Suharto," he said, adding that he also had ordered history teachers to apologize to students for students for the mistake.

Meanwhile, the younger brother of Gus Dur, KH Sholahuddin Wahid who is also the leader of Pesantren Tebuireng accepted the apology and appreciated the steps of the education office for withdrawing the LKS from circulation.

"I have talked to Mahfudz MD, Gus Dur was not falling because of corruption, the Gus Dur's fall was because of politics," he explained.

Not satisfied with the acceptance of the apology, Bambang and his entourage also asked a written statement from the family of Gus Dur to be conveyed to the Tulungagung's people. After receiving an apology, they then made the pilgrimage at the Gus Dur's tomb located in the complex of Pesantren Tebuireng.

Just a note, the LKS for senior high schools and Islamic senior high schools in Tulungagung includes lessons explaining that Gus Dur's presidency came to an end because of his involvement in two high-profile corruption cases, Buloggate and Bruneigate.

Formerly, outspoken Democratic Party official Sutan Bhatoegana finally apologized to the family of the late Abdurrahman Wahid on Thursday over remarks he made on Monday linking the former president’s downfall to two graft cases.

Sutan arrived at the South Jakarta home of Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, the former first lady, to apologize in person, accompanied by Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum and deputy chairman Johnny Allen Marbun.

Kneeling before a seated Sinta, he gave his apology and promised not to make other similar statements.

“I, Sutan Bhatoegana, apologize for the discomfort that I have caused you and your family over this issue,” he said.

“In the future I will be more careful about what I say.”

Sinta and her daughter, Yenny, said they accepted his apology and called for the issue to be put to rest.

Sutan, no stranger to making controversial comments, riled supporters of the former president known as Gus Dur when he said during a television interview that his presidency came to an end because of his involvement in two high-profile corruption cases.

Gus Dur, who became president in 1999, was impeached in 2001 on matters unrelated to the graft allegations.

The remarks angered members of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s biggest Islamic organization, which Gus Dur’s grandfather founded and which the former president himself previously chaired.

Anas said he initiated Thursday’s public apology in light of the mounting criticism of Sutan and the party.

“So today we brought Sutan here to meet with Sinta, and thankfully she has forgiven him,” he said.

“With that, I hope that this issue can be considered resolved.”

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sutan said he hoped that his apology would appease the NU supporters and end any hostility they felt toward the Democratic Party in general.

“This will have a positive impact on easing the tensions that have arisen and that none of us wants,” he said.

“This goes for members of NU and of the Democratic Party. Hopefully things will go back to normal now.”

He also said he would be more careful about what he said in public.

“When I speak honestly, I get blamed for saying the wrong thing. When I don’t say anything, I’m accused of being haughty,” Sutan said, adding that he would now consult with party leaders before making any public statements.


"On the circulation of misleading LKS, the family urged NU Tulungaung Department of Education to withdraw and apologize to the family of Gus Dur," said Robingan Abd Aziz, commander Banser said.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq
Contributors: Muslim Abdurrahman