Jakarta, IO – A number of residents reject the presence of Goddess Kencana statue at Pakis Hill tourist attraction in Cisarua, Bogor. They demanded the statue to be removed immediately.
The statue drew flak after it become viral on social media. The residents viewed it as incompatible to local culture and asked it to be demolished to prevent social tension, per Detikcom, Thu (25/4).
The police and local government were forced to intervene and mediate between the local residents and Pakuan Hills estate management. Pakis Hills manager Jatnika explained that the statue had created a polemic due to misunderstanding.
“The statue was built to attract tourism. We don’t have any negative intention,” Jatnika clarified. “The crowds should seek tabayyun [clarification] first before they came here to protest.”
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Pakis Hills has held meetings with other relevant parties including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Cisarua District government. It claimed an amicable solution has been reached. (un)