Earlier in the day, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian announced that his institution had obtained information that a group of protesters was planning to occupy the legislative complex during a rally on Dec. 2 to pave the way for the impeachment of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Fadli said Tito’s information still needed further clarification, as it might trigger public confusion and heighten security tensions.

“We haven’t heard anything [about the rally]. Even if it takes place, we will leave everything to the existing mechanisms,” the Gerindra Party politician told reporters.

Fadli called on all groups, including government officials, to be careful when making statements about sensitive information.

“I think we must filter circulating raw information before hastily revealing it to the public,” he said.

Ten political parties currently have seats in the House. Three of them – the Gerindra Party, the Democratic Party and the Prosperous Justice Party – are sitting outside the ruling coalition led by President Jokowi’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Indonesia has seen political tensions heating up since earlier this month after more than 100,000 people from various Muslim groups joining a large-scale rally on Nov. 4 to demand the criminal prosecution of gubernatorial candidate and incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Thahaja Purnama on allegations of blasphemy.

A number of leading Muslim figures have previously accused law enforcers of protecting Ahok in the case. Ahok, who previously served as deputy Jakarta governor, replaced Jokowi after the latter won the presidential election in 2014. (hwa)

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