Jakarta – Vice-presidential candidate Ma'ruf Amin has resigned from his position as Rais 'Aam (supreme leader), of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). His deputy, Miftahul Achar, has been appointed to replace him.

"Serving as Rais 'Aam is a noble mandate for all NU members, including myself. However, there is a situation in which I, an NU member, cannot avoid. The nation has called on me to give my best as a vice-presidential nominee," Ma'ruf said in his resignation letter dated Sept. 22.

"My choice is a new path of struggle for the greater benefit [of the Indonesian people]," he said.

The plenary meeting accepted Ma'ruf's resignation, as it aligns with the organization's statutes that stipulate the Rais 'Aam must resign if he or she is running for office.

The plenary meeting also appointed Ma'ruf as a member of NU's Mustasyar (advisory board), for the period of 2015 to 2020.

On Friday, the General Elections Commission officially declared Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin as well as Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno, as the two president-vice president candidates for the upcoming election. (sau)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/09/22/maruf-amin-resigns-as-nu-supreme-leader.html