It would be unbecoming for Ma’ruf Amin, President Joko Widodo’s running mate and one of the most senior Islamic figures in Indonesia, to get jiggy with it to a dangdut song, on stage, with millions of eyes watching across the nation.
But that’s what some people interpreted this as.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXG1kPsTQZA
The clip was taken at an event for supporters of the Jokowi-Ma’ruf ticket in Jakarta last Friday. Many, presumably supporters of the opposition, have blown the video out of proportion by suggesting that Ma’ruf was “dancing” to the dangdut song on stage (using the Indonesian word joget, which can best be translated as dancing enthusiastically), marking this as one of the first scandals of the official campaign period for next April’s election (we told you it won’t be drama-free).
Despite the fact that calling Ma’ruf’s off-rhythm and admittedly awkward-looking clapping a “dance” is seriously pushing it (Jokowi’s… whatever that was, on the other hand, could arguably be defined as a dance), the Islamic scholar today felt the need to address the accusation, calling it a hoax designed to bring him down.
“At my age I can’t be jumping up and down. I’d be out of breath. I did clap my hands, because I was following Pak Jokowi’s lead because it was a song supporting Pak Jokowi. Of course, I clapped,” Ma’ruf told reporters today, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
The 70-year-old Ma’ruf added that he would lose his clerical “aura” if he were actually seen dancing.
“If somebody said I did joget then their eyes are hazy. I was clapping, not dancing, where did they get that from?” he said.
Well, if all of the scandals during this presidential election period are this mild and silly, then we might actually have a peaceful election season. And that’s something we can all dance to.
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