Noisy Canon Dogs Die, Listen To Sandiaga Uno's Statement On Halal Tourism: Don't Mislead Terminology

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno/DOK Setpres

JAKARTA - Last weekend the death of a Canon dog in Aceh Singkil Regency, Aceh went viral on social media. Canon's dog died after being arrested by the Satpol PP team from the Pulau Banyak tourist site.

After making the news, the Head of the Civil Service Police Unit and the Wilayatul Hisbah Aceh Singkil Regency, Ahmad Yani, denied that his party had tortured the Canon dog.

"There was no torture carried out by members in the field, the dog is thought to have died from stress after being secured by members when it was brought to the mainland," said Ahmad Yani, quoted by Antara, Sunday, October 24.

He said the dog was arrested by the Aceh Singkil Satpol PP officers after his party received a letter from the sub-district head regarding the implementation of halal tourism in the Banyak Island area of Aceh Singkil.

Prior to the arrest of dogs at tourist sites, he said, his party coordinated with Muspika on Banyak Island regarding the activities of catching dogs that would be carried out, at a resort where the dogs were kept.

When the arrest was about to be made, said Ahmad Yani, the dog owner allegedly tried to make it difficult for the officers by buying time so that the dog was not caught or evacuated by the officers.

After coordinating with the resort owner, the officers tried to make arrests using safe and animal-friendly equipment.

Because the dog's condition was fierce, the dog then tried to give resistance when it was about to be arrested by the officers.

Because of this condition, the dog was then persuaded by the owner and then the dog named Canon was put in a basket, to be brought to the mainland in Singkil, the capital city of Aceh Singkil.

“We caught two dogs, so when we arrived at Singkil, one dog was found dead. While another dog is still alive and well," he said.

So what exactly is the concept of halal tourism? Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno once explained it in early 2021.

At that time, the concept of halal tourism that was being launched by the government reaped the pros and cons. Sandiaga Uno asked the public not to be divided because they misunderstood the term halal tourism.

"I speak but in a context that truly unites us. Let us not be divided because of our misunderstanding of terminology," he said in a webinar, Thursday, January 28.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at that time had indeed launched a sharia economic movement, which included halal tourism.

Then Sandiaga explained the terminology of halal tourism is tourism that is friendly to Muslims. For example, food that is guaranteed halal.

"We heard that the President was launching a sharia economic movement, one of which is halal tourism, now the terminology is Muslim-friendly tourism. It's called Muslim friendly tourism," he explained.

This halal tourism, said Sandi, as an additional service or extension of services. Then he talked about several tourist areas that have provided many services for Muslim tourists.

"In Bali there are many restaurants that provide services for Muslim tourists, in Lake Toba it is the same, in Labuan Bajo there are also many. However, because the demand is increasing, we must focus on adjusting to this demand, namely rebalancing supply and demand ," he said.

According to Sandiaga, recently religious tourism has increased. Not only religious tourism specifically for Muslims, but also other religions.

"I met with the Diocese of Ruteng (NTT), in Ruteng, the Bishop said, 'Mr. Sandi, don't forget religious tourism in West Manggarai. Up to Larantuka, we have 6 spots for a retreat, which will eventually have a big cross in Larantuka'," he said.