Observer Says Rejection To Ustaz Abdul Somad Is Singapore's Sovereign Right

Sri Yunanto/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Lecturer of Master of Political Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) from Muhammadiyah University Jakarta, Sri Yunanto, said that rejection of UAS to enter Singapore was part of the country's sovereign rights to protect the country's existence from intolerance and radicalism.

"Singapore already has a very firm attitude towards ideas that endanger the unity and integrity of their nation and society," said Sri Yunanto in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, May 23.

In the case of UAS, according to him, the public should also be aware that in the digital era like today, the digital footprint is not easy to remove, especially those related to SARA statements and hate speech against other groups.

Sri Yunanto saw that Singapore had a very big commitment to maintaining the pluralism of its nation's diversity.

"Even though we want to say anything, the digital footprint cannot be removed. The digital footprint is borderless, there are no boundaries. Singapore is quite 'careful' of all kinds of ideas or thoughts in the understanding of UAS that can endanger the unity of Singapore as if it appears like that," said the man who was once a member of the Expert Group of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) in the 2010-2014 period.

Sri Yunanto then criticized the spread of narratives circulating from radical groups linking Islamophobia, and the criminalization of ulama, to the "Infidel State" narrative. This is an exaggeration and baseless.

He reiterated that Singapore's attitude is none other than because the country has its own sovereignty and regulations in protecting its citizens who are also plural.

"So, it is not Islamophobia or criminalization of ulama, but Singapore warns that religion should not be used as a source of division and ethnicity or ethnicity that can endanger the unity and unity of the people in Singapore," he said.

According to him, that someone is accepted and refused entry to another country is a natural thing. It is natural in the sense that there are reasons that cannot be generalized and this is for all, especially for the preachers.

Actually, said Sri Yunanto, it is not only Islam that is related to the case in Singapore. In the past, the American Christian priest who preached hatred of Muslims or ideas that preached violence and intolerance had also been refused to enter Singapore.

"So, the language of the Singapore government is polite, 'You are denied entry'. So he (UAS) is not arrested," he said.