“We convey our deepest apologies. We extremely regret the incident,” Novita Hotel general manager Husairi Seger said Monday in a press conference. 

(Read also: Jambi hotel temporarily shut down after word 'Allah' found on Christmas tree)

Last week, the Jambi municipal administration in Jambi province decided to temporarily close Novita Hotel following the incident. Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha argued that the decision had to be taken to cool down religious tensions related to the matter. The police have also started to investigate the allegations.

 “We don’t want to see the people provoked by the incident. I thank all parties who have helped to maintain religious harmony,” the mayor said in the same event on Monday.

Husairi said the hotel had installed its Christmas paraphernalia since Dec. 9. Although he suspected the possibility that other parties had tampered with the ornaments, Husairi said the hotel would take responsibility for any negligence.

Ahmad Sukri, the leader of the Jambi chapter of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), previously said the management could be sued for blasphemy.

Jambi Police chief Brig. Gen. Yazid Fanani said the police had questioned more than 20 witnesses to investigate the case, including a number of local journalists who first spotted the ornament.

“Let us work [to settle the case],” he said on Monday. (hwa)

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