Jakarta (ANTARA) - A senior cleric of the Nahdlatul Ulama KH Maimun Zubair passed away when he performed hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

A politician of the United Development Party (PPP) Zainut Tauhid Saadi confirmed the report.

"Yes, it's true," Saadi said here on Tuesday.

The respected ulema who popularly known as Mbah Moen, has been invited by the Saudi's government to perform Hajj.

Mbah Moen was a respected cleric of the Nahdlatul Ulama and senior politician of the PPP. He led the Al Anwar Sarang Islamic boarding school in Rembang district, Central Java.

As a senior figure in Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Mbah Moen has the position as Muhtasyar NU (NU's advisory council) along with some other figures such as the vice president-elect Ma'ruf Amin.

While in PPP, he held the position as chairman of the party's sharia board.

Mbah Moen was known for his loyalty to PPP. He remained in the party despite NU's decision to establish the National Awakening Party (PKB) in 1998.

He said, PPP is not established merely for Muslim, but for Indonesia.

Related news: Younger generation, pesantren graduates must have skills: Jokowi

Related news: NU, Muhammadiyah share efforts to eradicate extremism

Translator: Anom Prihantoro, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019