Mahfud MD: Din Syamsuddin Is A Critical Figure, His Criticism Must Be Heard

Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD spoke out on radical accusations against Din Syamsuddin. Mahfud said the government had never considered the former Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah to be radical or adherents of radicalism.

"The government still considers Mr. Din Syamsuddin to be a critical figure whose criticisms we have to hear. When the government ever blame Mr. Din Syamsuddin's statement? Moreover, it has never been processed legally," Mahfud told reporters, Jakarta, Sunday, 14 February.

Mahfud admits that Din is a critical figure, but his critical attitude is not the same as being radical. For that, he said, the government did not process Din.

"Because we think of him as a figure. I know Mr. Din Syamsuddin well. I used to have discussions sometimes at Mr. Jusuf Kalla's house, sometimes at PP Muhammadiyah," said Mahfud.

Then, said Mahfud, Din was a figure reinforcing Muhammadiyah's stance that Indonesia was "Darul Ahdi Wassyahadah", which could also be interpreted as the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) based on Pancasila is in line with Islam.

"That's why he asked to unite, when he was a special envoy for the government to go worldwide, what he talks about? Talk about peaceful Islam, peace between people, and so on," said Din.

Previously, the Anti-Radicalism Movement (GAR) of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Alumni reported Din Syamsuddin to the State Civil Apparatus Commission (KASN) and the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) for alleged disciplinary violations of Civil Servants (PNS) in 2020.