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With Jokowi away in Kyiv, VP Ma'ruf steps into spotlight
Just after the President left for Europe, the normally discreet Ma’ruf waded into a controversial topic: marijuana policy.
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Vice President Ma'ruf Amin speaks at an online ceremony celebrating the 58th anniversary of the University of Mataram on Oct. 2, 2020. (Courtesy of Vice Presidential Press Bureau/--)
S
ince taking office in October 2019, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has kept his profile so low that many have questioned his role and effectiveness in the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
Ma'ruf has shunned the limelight to such an extent that at the start of the pandemic, the hashtag #ma'rufngapain (What is Ma'ruf doing?) trended, made popular by netizens who were dismayed by his lack of leadership as the country struggled with the pandemic.
This week, the Vice President appears to have at least temporarily abandoned his quiet ways.
Just after President Jokowi left for Europe in an attempt to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, Ma'ruf, a former chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), waded into the controversial topic of legalizing marijuana.
And the 79-year-old has taken a progressive stance.
On Tuesday, he requested that the MUI issue a fatwa to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, bolstering the resolve of activists who have been encouraging the House of Representatives to pass legislation to the same effect.
