Halaqoh's Recommendation, NU Scholars Call For Using Local Medical Devices

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Central Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Preaching Institute for Islamic Studies held the Ahlussunnah Waljamaah (Aswaja) Islamic Study Halaqah at the PBNU Central Jakarta Office. The results of this Halaqoh recommend that the Indonesian people, especially those who are Muslim, are obliged to use goods produced by local producers.

The reason is that the use of local products that are certified halal from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) will affect the validity of worship.

"We urge Muslims to always consume products that are guaranteed to be halal, whether food, drinks or products that come into contact with human organs. For example, Antigen swab tools, PCR, etc. because they will affect the validity of worship," explained the Head of the Halaqoh Study who is also a NU expert on Aswaja Teachings, KH. Misbahul Munir Kholil MA.

This haloqoh was attended by NU kiai and scholars. In addition to the Aswaja Teaching expert, Kiai Misbahul is also the caretaker of the Al-Misbah Islamic Islamic Boarding School (PIQ) Jakarta and the Central MUI Board.

Present at the Halaqoh activity for the Aswaja Islamic Studies Center were KH Ahmad Shodiq (Vice Commander of Santri), KH Mastur (Indonesian Mosque Council/DMI), Gus Imad (LDPBN), Gus Asif (Secretary General of the Aswaja Center), M Taufik Rusidi (Chairman of the Cooperative Community Welfare Business Services), Ustaz Fahruddin and Ustaz Yusep Koma.

According to him, halal certification is a form of fulfilling the obligations of the state in providing protection to its citizens. This is important considering that the Muslim population in Indonesia reaches more than 87 percent.

Therefore, all products circulating in the community must be guaranteed to be halal.

"We, as Muslims, are very happy if the products are guaranteed to be halal. And what guarantees halalness is from MUI," he explained.

He emphasized that legal certainty regarding the halalness of a product is very important. For this reason, he encourages the government, BUMN, hospitals, private parties to ensure the use of antigens and PCR that have been certified halal.

"I think the purpose of this halal label is to provide a sense of security for consumers," he explained.

Furthermore, Kiai Misbahul supports President Joko Widodo's program in promoting domestic products. This is in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) No. 12 of 2020 concerning Goods Prohibited from Importing.

Article 2 paragraph 1 letter C of this Regulation of the Minister of Trade states that goods are prohibited from being imported for the national interest on the grounds of protecting the health and safety of humans, animals, fish, plants and the environment.

Kiai Misbahul, who is also an NU scholar, believes that by using domestic products, more labor will be absorbed. This also reduces unemployment as a negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We scholars ask the government to prioritize local medical devices. We as children of the nation must be proud of domestic production. If we rely on imported products, it does not provide benefits for our economy. In fact, what happened later, many unemployed because our local products were not absorbed in the market," he explained.

For this reason, the caretaker of the Quran Science Islamic Boarding School again calls on the nation's children to support President Joko Widodo's policy to always love local products so that national products become masters in their own country.

"I hope this is a united and united Indonesian nation, please help and work together. Let's help our brothers and sisters who are capable of producing, for example, antigens or other medical equipment products, let's support them," he hoped.

Kiai Misbahul hopes that the presidential assistants must be wise in making policies. Ministers must have love and pride in local products.

"This local product must be our pride, especially if the price is cheap. We are of course looking for cheap ones. Well, it's strange if we choose expensive products. What's wrong? cheap. Moreover, if it is a product of the nation's own children, "he concluded.