Ma'ruf clarifies rumor about him being Jokowi running mate

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian Ulema Council Chairman KH Ma'ruf Amin got confused with the rumor saying he has been nominated as incumbent President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) running mate in next year's election. Moreover, there has been no communication or discussion between him and Jokowi related to the issue.

"That's why I'm confused. Why did my name was mentioned? Where did the rumor came from?" he said in rhetoric at Attorney General Office, Jakarta, Friday (July 20).

Kiai Ma'ruf has never been asked by Jokowi's side to be vice president candidate. When being asked whether he is ready to run in the election, he seemed a bit shy to stated his readiness.

In the context of serving the country, he personally felt that his post as leader of Ulema Council was enough. "However, it the state is calling, well I have to be ready,"

"Every one has to be ready when the country is calling, regardless the post," he remarked.

Kiai Ma'ruf said Jokowi was the one who has the right to pick his running mate. Therefore, there should be no intervention. "I better leave it to Mr. Jokowi," he said.

Kiai Ma'ruf said he did not pay too much attention to the rumor of his candidacy, including about his chance to be elected as mentioned by some pollsters. He believed it was just rumors developed by media.

Earlier, Golkar Party Executive Board Chairman, Bambang Soesatyo, said that his party would entrust Jokowi to pick up his own running mate. Golkar did not mind whether the cawapres (vice presidential candidate) came from a political party or non-political party circles.

He noted that there are names, such as KH Ma'ruf Amin (chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Coucil/MUI), Mahfud MD (former Constitutional Court/MK chairman), retired general Moeldoko (former Indonesian Defense Forces commander), General Tito Karnavian (current National Police chief), Commissioner General Syafruddin (head of the National Police Education Institution), and Gen. Budi Gunawan (Head of the State Intelligence Agency) in the non-political party list.