Minister Of Religion Yaqut Says Select "Amen" Bid'ah, PKB: People Are Smart

Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Awakening Party (PKB) responded to the statement of the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas which offended the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin) pair or the so-called Amin pair. Yaqut joked that choosing the Amin pair was a bid'ah. PKB Secretary General Hasanuddin Wahid admitted that he had not heard Yaqut's statement. However, even if there was a statement that was out, according to him, the community was smart to judge the Anies-Cak Imin pair. "I haven't heard that statement yet. If there is a return to the people. Our people are already smart, Amin, Anies-Muhaimin is rich," Hasanuddin told reporters, Wednesday, September 13, evening. Hasanuddin was actually grateful if Amin's partner reaped special attention from Yaqut. He also handed over the choice related to the vice presidential candidate to the Indonesian people. "We thank God, thank God, what it is, but the point is to return it to the people, the people are already intelligent, there is no need to worry if there is such a statement," Hasanuddin said. Previously, Minister of Religion Yaqut joked about the Amin pair, the acronym Anies-Cak Imin. He said that who chose Amin means Bidah.

This was said by Yaqut when opening the orientation of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion's PPPK in Surabaya, East Java, Wednesday, September 13. Initially, Yaqut joked to the Head of Balitbang Diklat Kemenag Prof Amin Suyitno. After that, he mentioned Amin who was busy.

"Prof Amin Suyitno, is this an additional amen or has it been a long time, sir? Because it's crowded with amen-amin, it's still crowded," Yaqut said on the sidelines of his remarks at the Surabaya Religious Education and Training, Wednesday, September 13.

"I don't know, I suspect, I usually call Pak Yitno, not Amin Suyitno. Maybe there is a presidential candidate who stands for amen," he continued.

Yaqut then exclaimed that he would not choose Amin. He also said the person who chose Amin meant heresy.

"But I didn't choose that (Amen) sir, it's clear, isn't it? Someone still chooses heresy," he said.

When confirmed after the event, Yaqut emphasized that his words were just a joke. He asked reporters not to deal with jokes with politics.

"How about it, don't fry it. Amin the name of the person, Amin Suyitno, the name of the Head of the Agency (Balitbang Diklat Kemenag)," he said.

Asked further whether Amin referred to Anies-Cak Imin, Yaqut denied it.

"It has nothing to do with it," he said again.