TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The country`s largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj said his organization would fully support the Joko `Jokowi` Widodo and Ma`ruf Amin pair in the 2019 Presidential Election.
“[They] must win [the election] because [Ma’ruf Amin is NU’s] Rais Aam or supreme leader,” Aqil said at PBNU office, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 14.
Aqil Siradj explained NU concerned on the political issue despite it did not engage in the politics. “We help to succeed it, our political arm is, of course, the National Awakening Party (PKB),” he added.
Read: JK Gets Full Support to Spearhead Jokowi-Ma`ruf Campaign Team
He further claimed all NU structures would back Jokowi-Ma’ruf pair in the presidential bid next year. “Our boards in NU and its followers, without being called on or paid, will give full support,” Aqil underlined.
Ma’ruf Amin was the supreme leader of NU for a period of 2015-2020. The 75-year-old man was the most respected ulema among the NU followers.
Earlier reports suggested Ma’ruf Amin would depart to Mecca to perform Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday, August 15. Upon his return in Indonesia, he would resign from his position in NU.
DEWI NURITA
