The Peak of Public Anger, Petition to Remove Miftah Maulana from the Position of Presidential Envoy Reaches 246 Thousand Signatures

Kapanlagi.com - The wave of public dissatisfaction towards Miftah Maulana, the Special Envoy to the President, is growing stronger. This dissatisfaction began from an impolite statement made by Miftah to Sunhaji, a street iced tea seller from Magelang, Central Java.

As of December 6, 2024, the online petition demanding Miftah's removal from his position has collected more than 246 thousand signatures. This petition appeared on the Change.org platform and highlights Miftah's statements and actions that are considered not to reflect the spirit of diversity.

In the petition's description, the initiators state that Miftah does not represent the hopes of the community as a figure expected to facilitate interfaith and civilizational dialogue.

The surge of support for this petition reflects deep public disappointment. "We urge the government to listen to the people's voice and take decisive action," said one of the petition supporters. The people's voices are growing louder, demanding changes that are hoped to bring justice and harmony.

1. The Beginning of the Petition's Emergence

Several days after sharp criticism directed at Miftah, a Change.org user launched a petition that quickly captured public attention.

In the petition, the initiator highlighted that Miftah's statements as a special envoy often provoke controversy and do not reflect the values of tolerance that should be upheld.

It didn't take long for the petition to be flooded with support, garnering thousands of signatures, reflecting the long-simmering discontent of the public regarding Miftah's performance as a public official.

2. Surge of Support in a Short Time

The number of signatures for this petition experienced an impressive surge! On December 5, 2024, support had reached 217 thousand, but within just 24 hours, that number skyrocketed to over 246 thousand on December 6, 2024.

This phenomenon is closely tied to the petition going viral on social media, especially after the hashtag #CopotGusMiftah captured attention and became a trending topic.

Support continued to flow from various segments of society who feel that strategic positions like special envoy should be filled by someone who better reflects their aspirations.

3. Palace Response

The Spokesperson for the Presidential Communication Office, Adita Irawati, spoke out in response to Gus Miftah's statement that invited laughter when he mocked a tea vendor in Magelang.

In her explanation, Adita emphasized that as the President's Special Envoy for Interfaith Harmony, Gus Miftah should be a role model in building communication that reflects moderation and tolerance, both domestically and internationally.

The Palace also regretted Gus Miftah's attitude, which is considered inconsistent with President Jokowi's directives, who always emphasizes the importance of respecting the small community, such as street vendors and farmers.

“We deeply regret this incident, as the attitude does not reflect the values upheld by Mr. President,” asserted Adita.

Meanwhile, although Gus Miftah has not provided an official response regarding the petition urging his removal, he remains focused on his duties and has even apologized to Mr. Sonhaji.

However, political observers state that this significant public pressure could be a serious consideration for the government in determining Miftah's future position.

4. Will the Petition Affect the President's Decision?

This online petition, which has garnered abundant support, could be an important signal for the government.

Although petitions do not have legally binding power, the resounding voice of the people often has the ability to sway strategic decisions made.

Political observers assess that the government's response to the demands in this petition will be a test of public trust.

"If these demands are ignored, the impact could be very detrimental to the government's image in the eyes of the public," asserted an analyst.

5. Why are the people demanding the removal of Miftah?

Community members express their concerns regarding Miftah's often controversial statements, believing that his stance is not in line with the values of diversity that should be upheld by a special envoy of the President.

6. How many signatures does this petition have?

As of December 6, 2024, this petition has gathered over 246 thousand signatures, and the number continues to rise rapidly.

7. What are the government's steps regarding this petition?

Although the Palace has not made an official statement, observers agree that the large public support at this time has the potential to shake the government's decision regarding Miftah's position.

8. Does an online petition have legal power?

Online petitions may not have binding legal power, but they often serve as a megaphone for the people's voices, able to attract the government's attention and influence the direction of policies taken.

(kpl/rmt)