"I was chosen not because of me personally, but because of the appreciation of the ulama and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). This means that Jokowi appreciates NU and ulema," Ma'ruf Amin said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The General Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Ma`ruf Amin, stated that choosing him to be the running mate of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) for the 2019 presidential race was an appreciation to ulema.

"I was chosen not because of me personally, but because of the appreciation of the ulama and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). This means that Jokowi appreciates NU and ulema," he stated in a press conference at the NU Headquarters in Jakarta Thursday evening.

Amin is also the supreme leader of the NU, the country`s largest Muslim organization.

"Of course, this must be responded to by helping and supporting him (Jokowi)," the Muslim scholar added.

Jokowi is the incumbent president who is seeking reelection in the coming presidential race in 2019.

According to Amin, the first way to help Jokowi is to support the Nawacita priority programs and the vision and mission of developing the country in several aspects, especially the integrity of the nation.

"In maintaining the integrity, we must encourage the nation to comply with the national commitment, namely the national pillar Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution," he remarked.

The second thing is to safeguard the integrity of the nation by forging Islamic solidarity and brotherhood among citizens.

"The third one is to create a safe and peaceful nation. An unsafe country cannot use its resources as it cannot maintain its security, such as Afghanistan which is rich oil and resources," he remarked.

In the economic field, the Muslim cleric, who is an Islamic law expert, wants to build a social economy to empower the economy of the people.

"This does not mean weakening the strong. The strong does not need to be weakened, but weak must be strengthened," he revealed.

Another aspect, according to Amin is to realize the rule of law. "We already have legal instruments and laws, we just have to strengthen them," he pointed out.

Reporting by Sigit Pinardi
Editing by Andi Andussalam, Bustanudin

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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