Jakarta, IO – Muhammadiyah is of the view that the proposal by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Rycko Amelza Dahniel to have all places of worship under government’s control could cause new problems, one being the formalization of religious understanding.
PP Muhammadiyah general secretary Abdul Mu’ti said the proposal is also not in accordance with Pancasila values and Indonesia could not simply copy what is being implemented in other countries, per CNNIndonesia, Tuesday (5/9).
“Politically, Indonesia is different from Malaysia, Singapore or Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Mu’ti also cautioned that radicalism should not always be linked to theology, because it is not always only related to certain religious community.
“Radicalism does not only occur in religious matters. Religious radicalism does not only occur in the Muslim community,” he explained.
Rycko’s proposal was made in response to a statement by member of the House Committee III of the PDIP faction Safaruddin at a joint hearing on Monday (4/9).
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Rycko said the proposal is similar to those imllemented in Malaysia, Singapore and several Middle Eastern and African countries which place mosques or places of worship completely under government control in order to prevent radical teachings.
Rycko explained that the government can monitor every worship agenda held by a place of worship and supervise preachers. (at)