Following a controversy involving an insult to an iced tea seller during a religious study in Magelang, Miftah Maulana, better known as Gus Miftah , decided to step down from his position as the President's Special Envoy for Interfaith Harmony and Development of Religious Facilities.
His resignation statement was delivered at the Ora Aji Islamic Boarding School, Kalasan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta on Friday, December 6, 2024. In the press conference, Miftah, who is 43 years old, explained that this decision was taken after praying, introspecting, and performing the istikharah prayer.
"After praying, reflecting, and istikhoroh, I have decided to resign from my duties as the President's Special Envoy," he said.
Here are some important points regarding Miftah Maulana's resignation:
1. No coercion
Miftah asserted that his decision to step down was not influenced by pressure from anyone, including President Prabowo Subianto. "I took this decision not because of pressure from anyone, but because of my love and responsibility to the President and the people," he explained.
2. The decision to step down as a first step
Miftah believes that his resignation is not the end of his contribution to the country. "This is the first step to contribute in a broader and more diverse way. The position is just a mandate, and I want to do more good," he added.
3. Say sorry and thank you
In a press conference, Miftah also expressed his gratitude to President Prabowo for the trust given. "I apologize if I have not been able to meet the expectations of the President. I learned a lot from him," he said.
4. Petition to resign
Since the controversy, many netizens have asked Miftah to step down. In fact, there are 7 petitions made to remove him from his position. One of the petitions was made by Dika Prakasa, who expressed the public's hurt feelings towards Miftah's treatment of iced tea sellers.