Appreciation For Jokowi To Revoke The Presidential Regulation On Alcohol, PBNU: Agree On The Khamr Industry, Means Agree To The Nation Of Everyone

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has finally revoked the attachment to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 10 of 2020 concerning the opening of investment permits for liquor companies.

Jokowi's decision was appreciated by the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board. Chairman of the PBNU, Said Aqil Siradj, said that Islamic sharia law clearly states that liquor (khamr) is haram and there is no tolerance for making it halal.

Therefore, Said Aqil does not agree if the government allows the existence of alcoholic beverage production companies in Indonesia.

"If we agree on something, it means agreeing with the impact. If we agree to the khamr industry, that means we agree that the nation will be all drunk,"

"Wow, there's no factory (alcohol circulation conditions) like this," Said said in a press conference at the PBNU office, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, March 2.

Said Aqil thanked Jokowi for responding quickly to criticism from religious organizations such as NU. Thus, canceling the alcohol investment permit.

"The name is morality, if you can build mutual benefit. If some people get benefit but others are harmed, that is called immoral," said Said Aqil.

Said also encouraged the government to base its investment policy on mutual benefit, while at the same time being oriented towards development that does not neglect religious values, values of the One Godhead.

"We also ask all Muslims, especially NU residents to maintain conducivity and not be provoked and do things that are not constitutionally justified," he explained.

Previously, Jokowi canceled attachments number 31, 32, 33, 45, and 46 in Presidential Regulation Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector. This Perpres opens the tap for investment in liquor companies (miras) in a number of provinces.

Jokowi said the decision to cancel the opening of alcohol investment was made after receiving input from a number of organizations and religious leaders who opposed the Perpres.

"After receiving input from ulama-ulama, MUI, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and other mass organizations, as well as other religious figures, as well as input from provinces and regions, I hereby decide on an attachment to the Presidential Decree regarding the opening of investment. It was only recently that I declared that the alcohol-containing liquor industry was revoked, "said Jokowi.