Jakarta – The Indonesian ulema Council (MUI) has announced KH Anwar Iskandar as its Chairman for the 2025-2030 term, following a consensus-based election at the council’s 11th National Conference on Saturday. Iskandar succeeds KH Miftachul Akhyar, continuing a leadership transition within Indonesia’s highest Islamic clerical body, which plays a meaningful role in issuing fatwas and guiding the country’s Muslim population. The appointments of Vice Chairmen and a new Secretary-General signal a reshuffling of the association’s key leadership positions.
Jakarta –
KH Anwar Iskandar has been re-elected as Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for the 2025-2030 term. The decision came during the council’s 11th National Conference (Munas).
According to Antara News Agency, the 12th plenary session, led by Munas XI Steering Committee Chairman KH Masduki Baidlowi on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Mercure Ancol Hotel in Jakarta, saw the announcement of the selection committee’s results delivered by Buya Amirsyah Tambunan.
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Iskandar succeeds KH Miftachul Akhyar as Chairman of the MUI, a position he secured through a consensus-based process utilizing the Ahlul Halli wal Aqdi system, also known as a selection committee. A total of 19 individuals served on the committee.
The National Conference also appointed KH M Cholil Nafis, KH Marsudi Syuhud, and Buya Anwar Abbas as Vice Chairmen. Buya Amirsyah Tambunan will serve as the MUI’s Secretary-General for the 2025-2030 period.
These appointments are in accordance with MUI Organizational Regulation No. 01/PO-MUI/VI/2025 concerning guidelines for the selection of MUI leadership.
The election of the Chairman and the formation of the MUI’s leadership and advisory councils followed a series of stages: the selection of the selection committee, the appointment of the committee members, the election of the Chairman, the formation of the MUI’s Executive Board, the election of the Chairman of the Advisory Council, and the formation of the Advisory Council.
The selection committee comprised 19 members, including three representatives from the outgoing MUI Central Executive Board (Chairman, Secretary-General, and Treasurer).
One member came from the Advisory Council, seven from the MUI Provincial Executive Boards, six from the leadership of Islamic organizations – namely Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah as permanent members, and other organizations on a proportional/rotating basis. Additionally, one member represented Muslim scholars/Islamic universities, and another represented Islamic boarding schools.
The members of the selection committee are as follows:
1. Chairman of the MUI Advisory Council for the 2020-2025 period, KH Ma’ruf Amin
2. Chairman of the MUI for the 2020-2025 period, KH Anwar Iskandar
3. Secretary-General of the MUI for the 2020-2025 period, Buya Amirsyah Tambunan
4. Treasurer of the MUI for the 2020-2025 period, H Misbahul Ulum
5. Representative of Islamic Organizations: Rais Syuriah PBNU, KH Cholil Nafis
6. Representative of Islamic Organizations: Chairman of the PP Muhammadiyah, Buya Anwar Abbas
7. Representative of Islamic Organizations: Al Irsyad, H Faishol Nasar bin Nasr
8. Representative of Islamic Organizations: KAHMI, Syamsul Qomar
9. Representative of Islamic Organizations: Chairman of Wahdah Islamiyah, KH Zaitun Rasmin
10. Representative of Islamic Organizations: Chairman of GUPPI Prof Fasli Jalal
11. Representative of Islamic Universities: Rector of UIN Mataram, Prof Masnun Tahir
12. Representative of Islamic Boarding Schools: Caretaker of Pesantren Darul Uchwah, KH Marsudi Syuhud
13. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MPU Aceh, Tengku Abu Faisal Ali
14. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MUI Bengkulu, Prof Zulkarnain Dali
15. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MUI DKI Jakarta, KH Muhammad Faiz
16. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MUI East Java, KH Mutawakkil Alallah
17. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MUI North Maluku, KH Salman
18. Representative of MUI Provinces: Chairman of the MUI Gorontalo, KH Zulkarnain Sulaiman
19. Representative of MUI Provinces: Secretary-General of the MUI North Kalimantan H Alwani Saputra
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