Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Comments on Miftah Maulana as Arrogant Preacher

December 6, 2024 | 04:58 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commented on the inappropriate behavior of an Indonesian preacher Miftah Maulana when he insulted an iced tea seller at his preaching event in Magelang, Central Java. 

In a video shared by MalaysiaGazette, Anwar Ibrahim admitted that he had received many viral videos of Miftah insulting an iced tea seller from his friends in Indonesia. "In Indonesia a few days ago, there was an uproar on social media, a preacher, in his sermon insulted an iced tea seller. My friends from Indonesia sent it," he said in a speech to hundreds of people during a meeting held by the Malaysian Ministry of Finance on Thursday morning, December 5, 2024.

Anwar Ibrahim sees Miftah Maulana as an example of a knowledgeable but arrogant religious figure

According to Anwar, the iced tea vendor, Sunhaji, has a different background from the preacher. "Two clerics laughed intending to insult each other," he said. "He sparked widespread anger among the people, so much so that President Prabowo Subianto made a rather strong statement, and finally the preacher visited the seller's area and apologized," Anwar said.

Anwar said Miftah's attitude showed that arrogance was not only possessed by those who did not have sufficient knowledge of religion. "It turns out that someone who understands religion, who talks about Islam, faith, prayer, and tradition (can also be arrogant), I find it strange," said Anwar.

Miftah Maulana faced criticism after his video went viral when he cursed the iced tea seller and called him stupid after asking about his unsold cups of iced tea. "Is your iced tea still plentiful? Go sell it, stupid," he said, looking back at the line of religious leaders behind him as if to confirm his insult. Ironically, the religious leaders also laughed at the iced tea seller.

Miftah finally apologized in a video uploaded to YouTube after being condemned by netizens. "I, Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman, respond to what went viral today, first of all with humility, I apologize for my mistake," he said. Miftah admitted that he was reprimanded by Cabinet Secretary Mayor Teddy for his inappropriate remarks.

He then visited the home of the iced tea seller, Sunhaji, in Magelang, to apologize. Miftah's visit was reciprocated by Sunhaji's visit to Miftah's Islamic boarding school, Ora Aji, in Kalasan, Yogyakarta.

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