THE EDITOR – Miftah Maulana, an Islamic preacher from Indonesia, received a reprimand from President Prabowo Subianto after humiliating an iced tea seller named Sunhaji in front of many people.
President Prabowo issued the warning after Miftah’s video went viral on social media. In the video, Miftah humiliates Sunhaji who was selling iced tea at Miftah’s recitation event at Soepardi Field in Mungkid City, Magelang, Central Java.
In a video uploaded by Gus Yusuf Channel on YouTube, several preachers can be seen laughing out loud when Sunhaji is humiliated. The speakers are Yusuf Chudlori and Zaidan Bin Yahya.
You can watch the video here, Gus Yusuf Channel, and find Miftah’s statement that humiliates Sunhaji at 1.55.30–1.55.50 and his statement that harasses Sunhaji’s wife at 1.56.00–1.56.46.
MIFTAH’S STATEMENTS THAT HUMILIATE AN ICE TEA SELLER AND HIS WIFE
In the video, Miftah is seen uttering degrading and pornographic words. The Editor has summarised these words for you.
“Do you still have a lot of ice tea? Then go sell it, stupid. Try to sell ir first. If it doesn’t sell, then it’s destiny,” he said, which was greeted by laughter from his congregation.
It wasn’t just the crowd that was laughing. The video also shows a man sitting to Miftah’s right laughing out loud along with three other people sitting to his right and behind him.
“If the weather is cloudy, cold, will the prayer of the iced tea seller be answered by God? Yes, it will still be answered, in another form. The iced tea may not be sold, but his body is healthy. So after work, his wife gets pregnant. It’s good,” he said.
“How come his wife can get pregnant while he is busy selling iced tea? It happens everywhere,” Miftah quipped, making the people sitting to his left and right laugh so hard that they jumped up from their seats.
NETIZENS REACTED AND DEMANDED PRABOWO TO FIRE MIFTAH
Indonesian netizens were immediately outraged and quickly spread the video.
One to note, Miftah currently holds the position of Presidential Envoy for Religious Harmony and Development of Religious Facilities. He was directly appointed by Prabowo Subianto on 22 October 2024 after taking office as President of the Republic of Indonesia.
Demands for Miftah to be removed from his position also came from academics and observers. This prompted the State Palace, where President Prabowo is based, to react.
WHAT DOES PRESIDENT PRABOWO SAY?
President Prabowo, through the Head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi, said that the State Palace had given a warning to Miftah through a message delivered by Cabinet Secretary Major Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Hasan said that in his reprimand, Prabowo asked Miftah to immediately apologise to the iced tea seller, whose feelings he said were deeply hurt.
He also reminded that President Prabowo still remembers what he said in the past. During an event, Prabowo admitted that he respected the merchants because they worked hard.
“Prabowo Subianto is very respectful and upholds manners towards everyone – the small people, street vendors, fishermen, farmers, everyone. People who work hard, they squeeze their sweat looking for halal sustenance for the needs of their families,” he said.
Hasan also claimed that President Prabowo and his cabinet are currently working seven days a week to ease the burden on the lower-class community.
“President Prabowo and his cabinet are working hard seven days a week to ease the burden on the lower-class community, to ease the burden on society as a whole so that our country can be better,” he said.
SOCIETY AND POLITICAL PARTY URGE PRABOWO TO FIRE MIFTAH
Despite Prabowo’s statement, Indonesians are still furious.
Gerindra Deputy Chairman Budi Djiwandono admitted that he had heard the public’s demands and, according to him, Miftah’s position on the President’s working team should be evaluated immediately.
“We regret that there may be statements that are unnecessary. Of course, there should be an evaluation. Moreover, he is a leader (for his congregation),” said Budi when met at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (4/12/2024), as reported by Liputan6.com.
Similar statements have also been made by DPR members in the past two days.
VIDEO OF MIFTAH DEMEANING HIS WIFE DISCUSSED BY THE MEDIA
Online, newspaper, and television media in Indonesia have been busy reporting on Miftah’s immoral actions.
One of them was when he violently shook the head of his own wife, Ning Astuti, in public. The incident occurred when they attended the 12th anniversary of the Ora Aji Islamic Boarding School in Yogyakarta.
In his clarification, Miftah explained that his action was not wrong, as it was done out of seeing something adorable.
He also admitted that he was used to doing this to Ning Astuti and did not think it would stir a debate.
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