NU National Conference Affirms That Money Politics in Elections Is Haram
The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), through its National Conference (Munas), has issued an important decision regarding ethics in general elections. This decision highlights the practice of giving money or compensation to voters, which often occurs leading up to election day.
In its ruling, the NU National Conference stated that giving money to voters under the guise of transportation costs or wages is haram (forbidden). This applies if the gift is intended to influence the voter's choice in the election.
The scholars in the forum emphasized that this practice is categorized as bribery or risywah. In the view of Islamic law, bribery is a prohibited act because it can damage the integrity of the democratic process and justice in the selection of leaders.
This decision is expected to serve as a reminder to the wider community to be more critical and not easily tempted by material rewards. NU emphasizes the importance of choosing leaders based on quality and vision, rather than being driven by money from certain parties.
As the largest religious organization in Indonesia, this view from PBNU serves as an important reference for Muslims in responding to the democratic process. It is hoped that this step can encourage the creation of a cleaner, more honest, and dignified election for all Indonesian people.