Kornelius Purba

 

To avoid misunderstanding, I must make it very clear that I have no intention to compare or link the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and adzan (Islamic call for prayer). In fact, the two are sensitive issues that recently came to the fore almost simultaneously.

It requires the courageous Indonesian National Military (TNI) chief Gen. Andika Perkasa and Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas to end the long-standing controversy surrounding communism and mosque loudspeakers. They seem to convey a “prophetic” message that should be voiced, if necessary repeatedly, even though it will anger people who resist change.

Meilina, a Buddhist woman of Chinese descent, was found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in August 2018. In July 2016, a mob damaged her house and a Buddhist temple in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, after she complained that adzan from a mosque near her house was “too loud” and “hurt” her ears.

Regardless of the impact of their policies (although they do not change anything), the two officials will be remembered as being among the few who dared to speak frankly about politically sensitive state affairs.

Luckily, for both Andika and Yaqut, protests against their decisions were insignificant, partly because of strong institutional support behind them. Protesters will also think twice to go to the street during Ramadan to call them out.