President Joko Widodo’s running mate, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairman Ma’ruf Amin, has officially been “non-activated” from the top position of the country’s highest clerical body, which is basically another way of saying that he’s resigning, but only if things go well for him in next April’s election.
MUI Deputy Chairman Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi, who is now acting chairman at MUI, said Ma’ruf came to the decision on his own in order to uphold MUI’s independence in the presidential election.
“Yes, non-active but not stepping down. This is for MUI’s independence,” Zainut told CNN Indonesia yesterday.
Zainut added that Ma’ruf wants to fully focus on serving President Jokowi and help him secure reelection.
Ma’ruf has not stepped down or been “non-activated” from his other influential position of Rais Aam (Supreme Leader) at Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the world’s largest Islamic organization.
People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker and opposition leader Zulkifli Hasan criticized Ma’ruf Amin for not fully committing to a permanent resignation from MUI, comparing him to Prabowo Subianto’s running mate Sandiaga Uno, who stepped down from his post as Jakarta vice governor immediately after he was announced as VP candidate.
“Why just non-active? The vice governor stepped down. [Ma’ruf] should step down too,” he said, as quoted by Kompas today.
Former MUI chairman and current chairman of the MUI Advisory Council Din Syamsuddin said Ma’ruf will resign permanently from the MUI should he be elected vice president.
