West Kalimantan Governor Bang Midji: Ahmadiyah Problems Are Solved According To Law And Deliberation

West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji/ANTARA

PONTIANAK - West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji emphasized that the Ahmadiyah problem in Sintang Regency must be resolved in accordance with existing laws and regulations and through deliberation to avoid divisions in the community.

"Since the case of the burning of the Ahmadiyya house of worship in Sintang last September, we have continued to look for solutions so that long-term problems do not occur. I want West Kalimantan to have no problems for inter-religious tolerance, so that we can build this area better, with the cooperation of all parties. regardless of ethnicity, religion and group," said Sutarmidji in Pontianak, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 6.

He said, based on the problem he had asked to be resolved by the rules and through deliberation.

"For example, in establishing a house of worship, there are already rules. And what is called a house of worship for a religion, there should be no prohibition for people to worship there, as long as the worship is carried out in accordance with the guidance of the religion and beliefs that already exist and if it deviates from the teachings of that religion already exists, it is clearly a blasphemy," said the governor, who is familiarly called Bang Midji.

Regarding blasphemy, according to the governor of West Kalimantan, it has also been regulated by law and there are legal consequences that can be imposed, if a person or group of people commits blasphemy.

Sutarmidji supports the West Kalimantan MUI's move to cooperate with Ahmadiyah followers to return to true teachings. And for that, he also asked the public not to do things that could divide the tolerance that exists in West Kalimantan.

"Speaking of Ahmadiyah, indeed this must be returned to the basic teachings of religion which are clear. Many parties say that we are intolerant of Ahmadiyah and I need to explain this is not a matter of intolerance but this is a matter of truth in religious teachings and if there is something wrong, we will correct it, not even allowed," he said.

As is known, related to the Ahmadiyah polemic in Sintang, at the beginning of last September, several buildings belonging to the Ahmadiyah congregation in Sintang were burned by a group of residents.

According to the statement from the West Kalimantan Police, his party has arrested 16 suspects related to the burning of the building. "The Sintang problem has been handled there. And for that, we ask the community to exercise restraint," said Bang Midji.