JAKARTA - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) held an online gathering and dialogue with a number of ulamas in Indonesia, in Jakarta, Thursday.
The dialogue was held to equalize perceptions in anticipating a surge in community activity and mobility ahead of the celebration of Eid al-Adha 1442 Hijriyah on Tuesday, July 20.
"We want to convey that the government cannot deal with this pandemic situation alone, the participation of all elements of society is very much needed. Therefore, we invite religious leaders to participate in the response to COVID-19," said Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko in a press release in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Thursday, July 15.
The meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD, and ten scholars from across Indonesia.
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The ten scholars are Habib Jindan bin Novel bin Salim Jindan, Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, KH Ust. Das'ad Latif, KH. Ahmad Muwafiq, Nyai Badriyah Fayumi, KH. Cholil Nafis, Ust. Yusuf Mansur, Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu'ti, Gus Reza Ahmad Zahid and Prof. Dr. Masyitoh Chusnan.
Moeldoko explained that the purpose of the dialogue with the ulama was to establish close and open communication between the government as umaro and the ulama to foster mutual trust with one another.
In addition, the government also wants to get input from the community, regarding the handling of the pandemic and the implementation of Emergency PPKM.
"We also want to invite religious leaders to build positive and constructive public narratives as shapers of public opinion in order to increase public awareness, vigilance, and will in suppressing the surge in COVID-19 cases," said Moeldoko.
To avoid spikes in activity and crowds of people outside the home, the government through the Ministry of Religion has issued Circular (SE) Number 17/2021 concerning the Temporary Elimination of Worship in Places of Worship, Takbiran Nights, Eid Prayers, and Guidelines for the Implementation of Qurban in 2021 in the Emergency PPKM area.
This restriction was not carried out without reason, considering that data from the National COVID-19 Task Force on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, showed that there were additional daily COVID-19 cases which reached 54,517 positive cases, which is the highest record during the pandemic.
"This should be a danger alarm for all of us," said Moeldoko.
Responding to this, the scholars who were present at the meeting stated their ability to participate in the prevention of COVID-19, especially ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations. This is done by calling on the people about the importance of maintaining health protocols and paying attention to the critical situation of the pandemic.
Religious leaders also provide input to the government, especially regarding the narrative developed by the government which should be made in a more sensitive form.
"The government needs to work with the community and local leaders to avoid terms such as restrictions on mosques or restrictions on worship that spark a wave of rejection," said Nyai Badriyah Fayumi, caregiver for the Bekasi Mahasina Islamic Boarding School.
General Secretary of PP Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu'ti, added the need for a conditioning narrative that shows sensitivity to the problems faced by the community.
“The officers must not let the field become less sensitive and their appeals contain violence. This is what we need to anticipate in such a way so that there is no impression that the government is dealing with Muslims," said Mu'ti.
A lecturer from Jogjakarta, KH Ahmad Muwafiq, stated the need for government efforts to accommodate the ways that local communities are dealing with the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Professor of Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic University of Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, suggested the need for a dialogue forum that includes leaders from five other religions to ensure inclusiveness for people of other religions.
A similar view was also conveyed by Ustad Das'ad Latif and Ustad Yusuf Mansur.
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