While reading Friday's edition of The Jakarta Post, a visiting friend remarked we were a "funny" country. Perhaps he was trying to use a milder term for something else. His remark came after reading an item concerning Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Tifatul Sembiring's views on Bank Indonesia Governor Boediono as the running mate of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for a second term in office as president. The second piece of news was about another equally "funny" article about the requirement for a female presidential candidate to avoid having sex for 10 days.

Your comments:

That's the quality of our leaders. What's wrong with us? Not only politicians, but also doctors are not well-educated. Our education system must be revamped completely. Revolutionarily revamped. There is no other way.

Johanes

In the last several years, I have many questions about my country Indonesia. I think RI must be a nationalist country, because in this country many religions live. But now Indonesians are fanatical about their religion and they forget they are living in Indonesia.

We are living on the wings of Garuda Pancasila (state ideology), and Bhineka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) is in our blood. To our government, please don't make parameters about someone's mentality or attitude just because of religious activity or gender.

Herry Susanto Mansyur

Thank you to The Jakarta Post for your bravery in publishing the article by Anand Krishna. I agree with his opinion. PKS, please do not destroy our beloved country.

I'm a Muslim but I never heard in history that one country is united and prosperous if it is based on religion. Who can bring about the perception about religion?

I hope all parties soon realize that Pancasila is the only solution and please develop love in yourself, so you can see God everywhere.

Istiqomah

I agree 100 percent. It's time to say goodbye to fanaticism, especially religious fanaticism. We are Indonesian, we should be proud of our own culture.

Ipe

Shame on us that our politicians can have such opinions. Faith is a very personal matter, who can judge one's faith but God Himself? And there is no contradiction between nationalism and faith; those two coexist together.

Every human being has more than one single identity: we can play a role as a child, parent, husband, wife, brother, sister, etc. So why can't we be Muslims or Catholics or Hindus or Buddhists, and Indonesian also?

We need to learn how to play politics in a smarter way. Use more earthly issues like poverty, global economic crisis, unemployment, crime, malnutrition, deforestation, sustainable development, etc.

Putting so much emphasis on women and sex only shows where our level of awareness is; that we can only think about those things.

Don't politicize religion but make our life religious by having empathy for those in need, who are struggling for their lives every day.

It is your job, my dear politicians, to provide decent jobs, to make sure there is enough water, fresh air, fertile land and enough resources left for the next generation, not only to satisfy your greed and hunger.

Herny

I think what Anand says is true. I experience also in my everyday life how these party members talk and act to other people. First they think about how Muslim are we, and if they think we are not Muslim enough they give a different kind of treatment.

As Indonesian Muslims, it is very frightening to see what could happen next if we allow this party to rule Indonesia.

The party that doesn't know how to implement Bhineka Tunggal Ika would in the old days be called by our beloved father Sukarno "Muslim Sontoloyo", which is very much different from true Muslims, people who have much understanding and appreciation of others.

Muhammad Dian

We just commemorated National Awakening Day, and this article reminds us, or rather shows our mistake and our stupidity: May 20, 1908, the day our founding fathers never argued about religion! For they lived religious lives, the life of our Motherland, Indonesia!

Who are the PKS? Why do they think they have the right to judge how Muslim somebody is?

They don't have any right! How about the rights of other sons or daughters of Mother Indonesia, the one who have religions other than Islam?

Hartyadi

I'm not Arab, Chinese or even American. I'm not Muslim, Catholic, Christian, Buddhist or Hindu. I'm Indonesian and I'm proud to be Indonesian. Please wake up, people of Indonesia! Let's work hand in hand to save our country.

Budi S.

All the mess in this country was caused by those so call "moral" politicians. Their hypocrisy shows in every aspect, including sexual matters. For me, all their statements prove that indeed they are obsessed with sex.

Pak SBY should know better about this hypocrisy, if only he listened to his heart. He should've kicked out the PKS from the coalition. Somebody has to speak out, thank you Pak Anand.

Harumini

Who is Tifatul Sembiring to judge that Boediono is not Islamic enough? What makes him think he is Islamic enough?

According to whom? This is a cheap way to get sentiment from the Muslim society. But I sure do hope the Muslims don't buy into it.

I, as a Muslim, am very disturbed and upset with the tendency of politicians to use religion to gain power.

It is politics without principles. Indonesians should beware of this phenomenon. Anand Krishna makes a good point in pointing out this issue. Well observed!

Maya Muchtar

Popular

Indonesia not affected by Southeast Asia-wide heat wave: BMKG

Residents fear for safety as Mount Ruang volcano erupts

In defense of Indonesian democracy