Gibran Ensures Non-halal Culinary Festival In Solo Does Not Disturb Tolerance

Vice President-elect and Mayor of Surakarta Gibran Rakabuming Raka. (Between)

JAKARTA - Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka ensured that the pros and cons that had colored the non-halal culinary festival last week did not interfere with people's tolerant lives in Solo.

"It's okay, just relax," he said in Solo, Central Java, Monday, July 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, a tolerant city is not a problem with indicators but an application in the field.

"Just implement it in the field, in everyday life. I think it's okay," he said.

According to him, the pros and cons about the non-halal food festival are common. In fact, he considered that the input that came from the Surakarta City Sharia Council (DSKS) was a positive thing.

"Indeed, if there is an incident like that, it is normal. The inputs from all of my friends, including the DSKS yesterday, also provide positive input," he said.

He said that until the event ended on Sunday, June 7, all parties were cooperative.

"It's okay, everyone is cooperative. DSKS friends are all cooperative," he said.

Previously, a non-halal culinary festival titled the Pepinan Nusantara Festival which was held at the Solo Paragon Surakarta Mall, Central Java since July 3-7 had been temporarily suspended in the aftermath of the emergence of pros and cons from a number of parties, one of which was from DSKS.

At that time, DSKS had met representatives of the Surakarta City Government to hold an audience regarding the non-halal food culinary festival at Solo Paragon Mall. Public Relations of DSKS Endro Sudarsono appealed to Muslims not to participate in the festival.

His party also highlighted the issue of notification banners that were considered too vulgar. According to him, notification banners should be installed on a limited basis and not too vulgar.

"Because residents are restless, this is too vulgar even though we quite appreciate food from non-Muslims. It is not permissible to impose their will, it is an appeal and statement of attitude," he said.

At the hearing, his party asked the Surakarta City Government to be more selective in granting permits.