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Religious representation 'vital', experts say after Religious Affairs Ministry blunder
Alissa Wahid of the religious freedom watchdog Wahid Foundation said the ministry should show more sensitivity toward the needs of all religious groups, particularly minorities.
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Catholics attend a White Thursday mass at the Jakarta Cathedral on April. 18, 2019. White Thursday mass is held in the week leading up to Easter. (Antara/M. Risyal Hidayat)
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o ensure the rights of all religious groups in the country are protected, it is vital that representatives of each group hold strategic posts in the Religious Affairs Ministry’s community guidance directorates general, experts have said following the public outcry over the recent appointment of a Muslim official as the acting head of Catholic affairs.
Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razy’s decision to appoint a Muslim to head the Catholic Affairs Community Guidance Directorate General caused disquiet among followers of the religion.
Acknowledging the move was a blunder, the ministry appointed Aloma Sarumaha as the acting director general, replacing the ministry's secretary-general Nur Kholis Setiawan who was previously appointed to the position. Aloma, who is a Catholic, previously held the position of secretary in the same directorate general.
Aloma’s appointment came after the ministry faced sharp criticism after an apparent bureaucratic blunder led to two Muslim officials filling the post in succession.
Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University scholar Syafiq Hasyim stressed it was crucial for the directorates general of specific religions to be led by a member of the respective religions so that the aspirations of that community could be met. The directorates general are tasked with formulating policies and running programs to support their respective religious activities.
"The directorates general were established to represent each of the country's official religions [in the ministry]. Thus, morally speaking, the posts should be filled by followers of the respective religions," Syafiq said on Wednesday.
Alissa Wahid of the religious freedom watchdog Wahid Foundation said the ministry should show more sensitivity toward the needs of all religious groups, particularly minorities.
