PGI Assessed That The Hijab Polemic At SMKN 2 Padang As A Small Problem, Don't 'fry' Into A Religious Problem

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JAKARTA - The Fellowship of the Indonesian Church (PGI) for the West Sumatra Region and the Indonesian Pentecostal Church Fellowship (PGPI) assess that the issue of the headscarf for non-Muslim students at SMKN 2 Padang is just a misunderstanding. This case has also been resolved.

"This is just a misunderstanding. Schools and different families understand the dress code in schools. It is not a matter of religion. The West Sumatra Provincial Government has responded quickly to resolve this issue", said the head of the PGI for the West Sumatra region, Reverend Titus Wadu.

According to him, the problem could actually be resolved by deliberation. Persuasive methods like that have been going well in West Sumatra. It's just that there seems to be a party trying to 'fry' the matter so that it seems like a big problem.

"Even though this is only a minor problem and we are not in West Sumatra fluctuation. Just ordinary", he said.

He assessed that this small problem should not be the cause of the cracking of religious harmony which has been well maintained in West Sumatra so far.

"I have been in West Sumatra for 31 years and have witnessed that religious harmony here is going well", he said.

According to Titus Wadu, The PGI fully supports the program to improve the quality of morals both mentally and spiritually in West Sumatra, including for example wearing a headscarf in educational institutions for Muslim students.

"Local wisdom must be respected in the spirit of mutual respect. Only in the future, there will be some exceptions made for non-Muslim students", he said.

Meanwhile the Chairperson of the West Sumatra PGPI, Rev. Hendri Dunant Sirait said the efforts made by the West Sumatra Provincial Government to resolve this problem had been very good.

Not only did they send an investigation team to schools, he said, but also established heart-to-heart communication with PGI, PGPI, and the Indonesian Christian Youth Force (GAMKI).

"We agree that this is not a matter of religion, but a matter of regulations in schools. This problem has been well responded to by the West Sumatra provincial government. This has been resolved", he said.

Head of the West Sumatra Education Office, Adib Alfikri, said that his party had distributed circular letters to all SMA/SMK in West Sumatra to evaluate all regulations in schools.

"Maybe there are those that have the potential to have problems, such as the rules at SMKN 2 Padang so they must be evaluated immediately", he said.