"‘Habib’ Syech emphasizes nationalism, humanism and pluralism. Why doesn’t the government expose them, why aren’t they promoted, supported, and encouraged?"
n Metro TV’s Mata Najwa Wednesday night, Najwa Shihab facilitated a rich discussion with several leaders of governmental and political organizations on the current problems of radicalism in Indonesia.
The roundtable provided valuable insight into the way radicalism enters schools and the steps that institutions like the Culture and Education Ministry are taking to combat radicalism.
The conversation was enlightening on several fronts, but I want to focus on a response by Muhaimin Iskandar, the chairman of National Awakening Party (PKB), as to why the youth are being radicalized.
“Syekhermania, all of Syekhermania are young. Every night around 30,000 people arrive to every event. Before they begin, they sing the Indonesian national anthem first. Their doctrine from ‘Habib’ Syech emphasizes nationalism, humanism and pluralism. Why doesn’t the government expose them, why aren’t they promoted, supported, and encouraged?” Muhaimin said.
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