Edy Rahmayadi: UAS Is Like A Family, A Scholar, Role Model For All Of Us

North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi. (doc of the North Sumatra Secretariat Public Relations and Protocol Bureau)

JAKARTA - North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi considers Ustaz Abdul Somad alias UAS to be like his own family. According to him, UAS is a role model cleric who is a source of inspiration for the community.

"Besides being a role model, he is also like a friend and even my own family," said Edy through his Instagram account, @edy_rahmayadi, Wednesday 18 May.

Edy stated that the humble attitude of UAS made many people motivated to study religion actively.

"His attitude of humility and breadth of knowledge is an inspiration for all of us to always be enthusiastic about learning religion and practicing it in daily life," he said.

Finally, Edy hopes that UAS will be given a long life, health and strength in devoting themselves to religion, nation and state.

"Always be in the protection and grace of Allah SWT," said the former chairman of PSSI.

UAS is now a byword after the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) in Singapore banned the famous ustaz from entering the country on Monday, May 16.

There are a number of reasons why UAS is not allowed to enter Singapore. In a written statement released on the Sungapura Ministry of Home Affairs website, UAS is called an extremist preacher and teaches segregation.

Another reason is because the content of the previous UAS lecture about suicide bombings was not tolerated by the Singapore government.

"As Somad delivered a sermon that suicide bombings were legal in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and were considered a martyrdom operation," said a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, quoted on Wednesday 18 May.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore has also recorded a track record of UAS lectures demeaning adherents of other religions, which is the reason why they are not allowed to enter Singapore.

"He [UAS] also made derogatory comments about adherents of other religions such as Christianity, by describing the Christian cross as the abode of the gentile infidel. In addition, Somad openly referred to non-Muslims as infidels," said the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs statement.