Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has fired back at the National Awakening Party (PKB), of which he is a member, after it looked to “discipline” him for a remark he made that many perceived as a veiled jab at presidential hopeful Anies Baswedan, who is running with party leader Muhaimin Iskandar.

Yaqut, the younger brother of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, said during a Buddhist community event last week in Central Java’s Surakarta that people should not vote for leaders who “have a handsome face and talk sweet”, while having a track record of weaponizing religion in their political campaigns.

The minister added that evidence of leaders using identity politics could be seen in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. Anies, who faced incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, was accused of using sectarian politics during the run up to the election.

“We have a history of religion being used improperly in politics,” Yaqut said during the event. “[It was evident] during the Jakarta gubernatorial election and the past two presidential elections. Religion was clearly used as a tool to achieve [political] interests.”

The PKB did not receive the statement well. Party deputy chair Jazilul Fuwaid accused Yaqut of being a “buzzer”, a term commonly used in Indonesia to refer to paid political commenters on social media, and a “provocateur.”

“He needs to be careful when speaking,” Jazilul said on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com. “He’s a public servant, who is paid by the state to maintain harmony in the country, not to make unnecessary statements.”

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