Miftachul Akhyar Officially Becomes Chair Of MUI In Today's Memory, 27 November 2020

MUI General Chair, Miftachul Akhyar. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, five years ago, November 27, 2020, Miftachul Akhyar was officially appointed as General Chair of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). He replaced Ma'ruf Amin. Miftachul admitted that he was ready to bring MUI through the challenges of the times and the rapid advancement of the world of technology.

Previously, Ma'ruf Amin was Jokowi's partner in the 2019 presidential election. Ma'ruf Amin, who in fact was criticized by the MUI chairman for not wanting to resign from his position. He only wants to resign if Jokowi-Ma'ruf becomes President and Vice President in the future.

Political ethics is something that is very much needed in the modern era. This narrative will make Indonesian politics more colorful and civilized. Take for example when approaching the 2019 presidential election. Prabowo Subianto again ran for a presidential candidate.

He then took the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Sandiaga Uno as vice presidential candidate. The rules allow officials to participate in political contestation. It's just that they have to take time off. However, Sandi chose the opposite.

Instead, he chose to resign from the position of Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta on August 10, 2018. The resignation was carried out because Sandi felt that his duties as Deputy Governor were heavy. Jakarta's affairs could be scaled if he was on leave.

He also thought that if he did not resign in the future there would be a leadership conflict. Sandi's attitude was praised by many parties. However, it is different from Jokowi's partner, Ma'ruf Amin. The MUI chairman did not want to give up his position.

MUI has also been criticized by many parties. MUI was asked to immediately determine the fate of Ma'ruf Amin. Moreover, MUI answered suddenly. Ma'ruf Amin will only resign if he wins the 2019 presidential election. MUI's answer is considered not a knight's attitude.

The narrative is believed to bring a conflict of interest. Ma'ruf is suspected of being able to use MUI's strength to support him in winning the election. As a result, criticism to Ma'ruf and MUI is increasingly flowing.

Bersama Waketum PBNU KH Amin Said Husni, kami menyampaikan laporan rutin agenda organisasi kepada Rais Aam PBNU Yang Mulia KH Miftachul Akhyar di kediaman beliau, Pesantren Miftachussunah, Surabaya, Sabtu (26/4). pic.twitter.com/mpet5v0lge

— Yahya Cholil Staquf (@YahyaCStaquf) April 26, 2025

Together with PBNU Deputy KH Amin Said Husni, we submitted a routine report on the organizational agenda to Rais Aam PBNU His Majesty KH Miftachul Akhyar at his residence, Islamic Boarding School Miftachussunah, Surabaya, Saturday (26/4). pic.twitter.com/mpet5v0lge

"Yes, you have to obey me, the losing period with Bang Sandiaga has resigned from the Deputy Governor of DKI," said Zulhas at Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta, as quoted on the website.com, August 29, 2018.

Recently Jokowi-Ma'ruf won. Both of them became the new President and Vice President of Indonesia on October 20, 2019. However, this success did not necessarily make Ma'ruf Amin resign. Ma'ruf continued his position as Chairman of the MUI until his position was completed in 2020.

As a result, Ma'ruf Amin was just replaced by Miftachul Akhyar as chairman of the MUI on November 27, 2020. The decision was welcomed positively. Ma'ruf is considered to be able to focus as Vice President. Miftachul can focus on building MUI and keep Muslims away from harm.

Miftachul Akhyar is also ready to work hard as Chairman of the MUI. He wants the presence of MUI to be able to answer the challenges of the times and technological advances. He also wants Muslims to be able to deepen their religion.

"Our hope is that if we don't become pious people, they will be those who want to learn. Because, Rasulullah himself divides people into only two kinds. A pious person, who has studied and knows, and those who are still in order to know."

"We are between that. There is no third division. If there is, it has entered this institution. We still need to explore the hopes of Islam. I have described earlier, had there been trees all made into pens on this earth. Then all the oceans, imported from other oceans, other nature, he said, would all be dry, would run out, but the value of Islam had not run out. This should be possible, "said Miftachul as quoted on the Republika page, November 27, 2020.