Media Foreigners highlight the Gus Miftah case that has shocked Indonesian citizens
Sources : cnbcindonesia.com
December 6, 2024, CNBC Indonesia – A controversial case involving Gus Miftah, a cleric and special envoy of the President of Indonesia on Religious Harmony, has caught the attention of foreign media. The incident stems from a video featuring Gus Miftah criticizing an iced tea vendor at the Magelang Bersholawat event some time ago. As a result of the viral video, Gus Miftah was forced to resign from his position after receiving sharp public scrutiny.
Incident
In the video circulating, Gus Miftah is seen talking to an iced tea seller, Sunhaji, in a rude tone. Gus Miftah calls the seller an “idiot” and gives advice in a condescending tone: “Es tehmu ijek okeh ora, yo kono didol, goblok.” This action drew strong criticism from many parties, including netizens who strongly protested Gus Miftah’s behavior.
After the video went viral, more than 318,000 people signed an online petition calling for Gus Miftah’s dismissal. Criticism also came from various circles, including political observers, who considered Gus Miftah’s remarks to be against the image of the government currently led by President Prabowo Subianto.
Gus Miftah Resigns
On Friday (6/12/2024), Gus Miftah announced his resignation from the position of Presidential Special Envoy for Religious Harmony and Development of Religious Facilities. In his statement, Gus Miftah emphasized that this decision was taken not due to pressure from any party, but as a form of respect for President Prabowo and the people of Indonesia. “I took this decision because of my love, respect, and responsibility towards Mr. President Prabowo Subianto and the entire community,” Gus Miftah said in a press conference.
Response Palace and Public
The Presidential Palace has honored Gus Miftah’s decision to resign. Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, revealed that President Prabowo had given Gus Miftah a warning and asked him to apologize to Sunhaji. “We respect his decision,” Nasbi said, although he has not confirmed whether Gus Miftah’s resignation has been formally submitted.
Reaction Foreign Media and Malaysian Prime Minister
International media, including Channel News Asia (CNA) from Singapore, also reported on this incident. The article published on December 6, 2024 highlighted Gus Miftah’s resignation after tremendous public pressure. CNA also quoted comments from political observer Agung Baskoro, who stated that Gus Miftah’s remarks could harm the Prabowo government’s image.
In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also responded to this incident. In his speech on December 5, 2024, Anwar expressed his astonishment at Gus Miftah’s behavior, which he considered an example of arrogance, even among those who claim to understand religion. “This is a reminder that arrogance can come from anyone, including those who claim to be religious,” Anwar said.
Support for Sunhaji
On the other hand, Sunhaji, the iced tea vendor in the spotlight, received a lot of support after the incident. Some even offered to help Sunhaji make the pilgrimage to Mecca, in solidarity with him.
This controversy shows how powerful social media can be in influencing public opinion and triggering changes in decisions. Gus Miftah, who was previously known as a cleric steeped in da’wah, must now face the consequences of actions that have drawn widespread protests among Indonesians.
December 6, 2024, CNBC Indonesia – A controversial case involving Gus Miftah, a cleric and special envoy of the President of Indonesia on Religious Harmony, has caught the attention of foreign media. The incident stems from a video featuring Gus Miftah criticizing an iced tea vendor at the Magelang Bersholawat event some time ago. As a result of the viral video, Gus Miftah was forced to resign from his position after receiving sharp public scrutiny.
Incident
In the video circulating, Gus Miftah is seen talking to an iced tea seller, Sunhaji, in a rude tone. Gus Miftah calls the seller an “idiot” and gives advice in a condescending tone: “Es tehmu ijek okeh ora, yo kono didol, goblok.” This action drew strong criticism from many parties, including netizens who strongly protested Gus Miftah’s behavior.
After the video went viral, more than 318,000 people signed an online petition calling for Gus Miftah’s dismissal. Criticism also came from various circles, including political observers, who considered Gus Miftah’s remarks to be against the image of the government currently led by President Prabowo Subianto.
Gus Miftah Resigns
On Friday (6/12/2024), Gus Miftah announced his resignation from the position of Presidential Special Envoy for Religious Harmony and Development of Religious Facilities. In his statement, Gus Miftah emphasized that this decision was taken not due to pressure from any party, but as a form of respect for President Prabowo and the people of Indonesia. “I took this decision because of my love, respect, and responsibility towards Mr. President Prabowo Subianto and the entire community,” Gus Miftah said in a press conference.
Response Palace and Public
The Presidential Palace has honored Gus Miftah’s decision to resign. Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, revealed that President Prabowo had given Gus Miftah a warning and asked him to apologize to Sunhaji. “We respect his decision,” Nasbi said, although he has not confirmed whether Gus Miftah’s resignation has been formally submitted.
Reaction Foreign Media and Malaysian Prime Minister
International media, including Channel News Asia (CNA) from Singapore, also reported on this incident. The article published on December 6, 2024 highlighted Gus Miftah’s resignation after tremendous public pressure. CNA also quoted comments from political observer Agung Baskoro, who stated that Gus Miftah’s remarks could harm the Prabowo government’s image.
In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also responded to this incident. In his speech on December 5, 2024, Anwar expressed his astonishment at Gus Miftah’s behavior, which he considered an example of arrogance, even among those who claim to understand religion. “This is a reminder that arrogance can come from anyone, including those who claim to be religious,” Anwar said.
Support for Sunhaji
On the other hand, Sunhaji, the iced tea vendor in the spotlight, received a lot of support after the incident. Some even offered to help Sunhaji make the pilgrimage to Mecca, in solidarity with him.
This controversy shows how powerful social media can be in influencing public opinion and triggering changes in decisions. Gus Miftah, who was previously known as a cleric steeped in da’wah, must now face the consequences of actions that have drawn widespread protests among Indonesians.
