Said Aqil Calls Mahfud MD Smart And Admired By Gus Dur

Indonesian Vice President Mahfud Md. (left) and former PBNU Chairman Said Aqil Siradj (right) in Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday (2/12/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Former Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Said Aqil Siradj said that the Indonesian Vice Presidential Candidate Mahfud Md. was intelligent and admired by former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid alias Gus Dur.

This was conveyed by Said referring to Al-Mawardi's al-Ahkam al-Sulthaniyah book regarding the criteria that must be possessed by the candidate leader, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, December 3.

"If I look at the syyasah fiqh by Al-Mawardi, the president and vice president have the conditions to be knowledgeable, smart, and intelligent. Mr. Mahfud is smart or not? Isn't he smart? Professor of doctoral experts at state administration. Gus Dur was also amazed at him," Said said in Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday night.

Said said that the criteria for a candidate leader must be fair to the community and not selective.

"Second, leaders must be fair to the community, not selective, not indiscriminately upholding justice. Mr. Mahfud thinks the leader who will uphold justice will not? God willing. If Mr. Mahfud becomes vice president, he will eradicate corruption and make improvements," he said.

According to Said, the third criterion is that a candidate leader must be not greedy and not greedy, and not accumulate assets for personal gain. In addition, leaders must be brave and not afraid.

"Fourth, leaders must be brave, not coward. Qulil haqqa even though it's Murran, will tell the truth even though the consequences are very heavy and people don't like it," he said.

On the other hand, Said said that Mahfud Md. will win the 2024 political contestation so that he will be elected Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Mr. Mahfud, my friend, Madurese, East Java, is currently still serving as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. God willing, he will win and become Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia in 2024," said Said.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday, November 13, 2023, determined three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates to participate in the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres).

The results of the draw and determination of the number of participants for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the pair Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md. serial number 3.

The KPU has also set a campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, then the voting schedule will be on February 14, 2024.