Vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD has promised that the government will pay the salaries of Quran teachers at pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) if he wins the 2024 election. 

“We will find the funding [to pay them]. Rules can be changed,” Mahfud said at a gathering of Muslim clerics from greater Sukabumi and Cianjur at the Tahfidz Nurul Hidayah pesantren in Sukabumi, West Java, on Wednesday, as quoted by Tempo.

“I am a madrassa graduate who became a high-ranking official with a high salary [and] a professor. So why did my madrassa teachers not get paid when they educated many people who have become great individuals,” said Mahfud, who attended the event in his capacity as coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister in President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s cabinet.

Mahfud also noted that electoral campaigning was banned at pesantren. Nonetheless, the clerics at the event still conveyed their hope to Mahfud that pesantren teachers would enjoy greater government support. 

“Hopefully, [if Ganjar and Mahfud are elected], the policies will be fully in favor of Islamic boarding schools,” said cleric Ade Ismail of Cianjur, West Java.

Aan Hamdan, a cleric from Sukabumi, also expressed his support for Mahfud. He said he particularly hoped that Mahfud would be able to make his proposed salary program a reality. 

“In our village, there are even some clerics that have not received their [salaries] yet. So please, if you become vice president, make a clear presidential regulation [about it], and don’t make it complicated,” said Aan to Mahfud at the event.

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