Responding To The Opening Of Houses Of Worship By The Ministry Of Religion In The Middle Of The COVID-19 Pagebluk

JAKARTA - The Minister of Religion (Menag) Fachrul Razi said that his party would issue a circular regarding the reopening of the functions of places of worship by issuing a new normal protocol in the middle of the COVID-19 event on Friday afternoon, March 29.

A number of religious organizations have also reminded the government to really prepare these health protocols for the health of the people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have even asked the government to imitate mosques in other countries that strictly implement health protocols.

According to the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Marsyudi Syuhud, Muslims, kiai and ustaz certainly really hope that houses of worship such as mosques will return to normal activities soon. However, according to him, this should be a serious concern from the government.

"This desire must be accompanied by the preparation of this new normal protocol. Because after all, COVID-19 is still moving. Right, it still exists. So, the way to fight it is that the government must make a protocol for when the mosque is opened," said Marsyudi when contacted by VOI via telephone line, Friday, May 29th.

He said that Indonesia could follow the health protocols implemented in mosques in Saudi Arabia by making certain rules. For example, opening the mosque 15 minutes before the call to prayer and closing it for 10 minutes, then opening all doors and windows, and moving books or books that have been touched by other people to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"Imposing distance restrictions, the distance is two meters. Moving cold drinking water, closing the bathroom and ablution, asking for wudu at home, then not bringing small children who are not yet mature. All these are examples, what can be done," he said.

Apart from implementing strict health protocols, Marsyudi also said the government must provide details on the zone of the spread of this virus. Because, according to him, so far the public doesn't know the details about the zone where this virus spreads.

"People don't know which one is still red. If it's green, I think it's good to open it immediately. But when the red one also has to be vigilant. Maybe the green one is opened first, while waiting for the red one to turn green. Well, this is the people don't know, the one who knows is the government, "said Marsyudi.

Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir also asked the government to finalize the implementation of new norms in the middle of this event. In the midst of this virus attack, the government should not confuse the public and make their own interpretation of the new normal protocol.

He also asked the government to re-conduct a study on this new normality. "The government needs to carefully study the application of new norms and an objective and transparent explanation," said Haedar in his written statement.

Several things that need to be re-examined are the basis for this new normality policy, the aims and objectives, the consequences of the prevailing regulations, especially the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), regional guarantees that are declared green zones, and their preparation so that people who do not become victims eventually. .

"All parties in this country hope that this COVID-19 will end soon in Indonesia and abroad. However, everything needs to be thorough so that the three months that we have worked on all this time end well," he said.

General Chairman of the Indonesian Churches Association (PGI), Gomar Gultom, welcomed the government's intention to reopen houses of worship after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, he considered that the government was too hasty. Moreover, according to him, the spread of this virus is still unstable and unstable.

So, he hopes that the opening of this place of worship is truly based on mathematical modeling whose statistics indicate a decrease in new cases. The opening of this place of worship, continued Gomar, should not be opened just because it wants to compensate for the easing in the economic and industrial sectors.

In addition, Gomar hopes that the government does not make it common for all regions to open houses of worship.

"The government should not make it generalized for all regions but really only start from areas that are included in the green zone," he said.

Then, the government can also prepare people to be more disciplined in implementing health protocols in places of worship. "The leaders of the community at the local level need to be invited to understand the need for this discipline for mutual safety," said Gomar.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Public Apostolic Commission of the Indonesian Bishops' Commission (KWI) Paulus Christian Siswantoko Pr said that KWI wanted to first know about the health protocols that will be issued by the Ministry of Religion on Friday, today.

"If in the Ministry of Religion's decision we must continue to use health protocols, yes, we comply. We will prepare, for example, the congregation to have one meter of seating, provide hand sanitizers, enter the church using masks and so on," he said.

He said there is a chance the church will be full when the distancing protocol is implemented. However, this will later be circumvented by continuing to hold worship online or even increasing the number of mass.

"Yes, we are looking for what is possible. But still the context so that everyone is in good health," said Paulus.

Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Marwan Dasopang also spoke about the opening of this place of worship. Especially regarding the need for a permit from the local sub-district head after the manager has asked for permission from the regent or mayor.

According to him, the government must explain the reasons for the camat's license to the public. This aims to avoid misunderstandings in the community.

"Please convey it clearly. Don't be half-informed. Tell the sub-district head to allow it, the principle of the sub-district head allows it because he understands the area. That's just an agreement," he said.

"Later people say, 'what is the relationship between a mosque and a sub-district head?'. Even though it is not a mosque with a camat in question. The point is an understanding of the zone, the red zone or not," added this PKB politician.

He assessed that opening a house of worship in the midst of the COVID-19 situation requires caution. Although there is no need to carry out a rapid test when entering a house of worship, Marwan reminded the government to really ensure that there is a health protocol that is followed by the community when worshiping in a house of worship.

"In my opinion, there is no need for an individual rapid test going to the mosque. Only the cleanliness must be maintained," he said.

The way to keep this mosque clean is to always carry out disinfection and frequent cleaning so that no viruses are left behind.

However, according to him, not all mosques have excess funds to always pay for providing disinfectants and other cleaning tools. So, the government certainly needs to pay attention to this place of worship.

"Maybe there are mosques that are strong (issuing additional funds) because the congregation is there. But there are also mosques that are not strong enough for this. So they need the presence of the government," he concluded.