Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric Ahmad Mustofa “Gus Mus” Bisri has told Ma’ruf Amin to step down from his position as Rais Aam, or supreme leader, of the organization as he will run with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the 2019 presidential election.

Gus Mus said it was unethical for Ma’ruf to hold many positions at once in different organizations.

“I think it’s unethical for him to hold so many positions at once, even when he has been appointed a vice presidential hopeful,” he said recently as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Besides being the supreme leader of the NU central board (PBNU) for 2015-2020, Ma’ruf has also been the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) since 2007 and is a board member of the Pancasila body (BPIP).

Jokowi has also recently appointed Ma’ruf as his running mate in the upcoming election against Gerindra Party presidential nominee Prabowo Subianto, who has paired with businessman Sandiaga Uno.

Gus Mus, a respected NU cleric, has also asked the PBNU and the MUI to prepare a replacement following Ma’ruf’s appointment.

Ma’ruf said on Sunday that he had not resigned from his position as MUI chairman and would let the organization decide how to resolve it. (ris)