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AKARTA: Religious gatherings and programs on television are lacking substantial content and have tended to become more focused on entertainment instead of proliferating Islamic teachings, a legislator says.

“[The government] should pay attention to television programs airing before the morning prayers, so little religious messages in them,” said member of House’s Commission VIII overseeing religious affairs, Rahman Amin, during a meeting with Religious Affairs Ministry at the House of Representatives.

The politician from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) compared the programs with the sermons of noted Muslim cleric Buya Hamka in 1980s, from which citizens from all generations could grasp the values of Islamic teachings.

He said audience would not receive anything better than humor and entertainment from the religious programs if the ministry fails to control them. — JP