President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced his running mate for Indonesian 2019 election. He picks nonpolitical party figure Ma’ruf Amin.

Ma’ruf has been a lawmaker, councilor, presidential advisory council member, supreme leader of Nahdlatul Ulama central board, and chairman of the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council). As MUI chairman, Ma’ruf supported controversial regulations, including the Pornography Law and the joint ministeriala decree banning the activities of minority group Ahmadiyah.

In 2017, Ma’ruf was a key expert witness in a highly publicized blasphemy trial that sent Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to prison for two years.

Ma’ruf Amin is also a board member of the Sharia Cooperative 212, along with Arifin Ilham and Abdullah Gymnastiar. The cooperative runs several convenience stores that are expected to create a strong Muslim economy.

(this article is compiled from The Jakarta Post)