Reza Gunadha, Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari – The Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno election campaign team (BPN) has responded sarcastically to a statement by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) – a supporter of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo – rejecting religious based bylaws.

BPN spokesperson Suhud Aliyudin believes that the PSI’s position of not supporting perda [bylaws] based on Islamic law or the Bible conflicts with the state ideology of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945).

He asserted that the PSI should first understand Pancasila and the UUD 45 as an ideology before making controversial statements such as this.

“On the PSI, we think that they must first understand the state ideology of Pancasila and the UUD 1945 which respect religion. Only the PKI [the banned Indonesian Communist Party] rejects religion”, claimed Aliyudin when speaking with Suara.com on Wednesday November 14.

Aliyudin also explained that Indonesia is country whose society embraces various religions. Moreover the nation’s founding fathers placed religion first in the five principles of Pancasila.

Because of this therefore, Aliyudin is convinced that rejecting religion conflicts with these two basic principles of the state. “Enthusiastically rejecting religion conflicts with Pancasila and the UUD 1945”, he said.

As has been reported, the PSI stated recently that it will never support regional regulations based on religion and it will reject perda based on the Bible or Islamic law.

PSI Secretary General Raja Juli Antoni said that perda based on religion have destroyed social unity in Indonesia. Given the diversity that exists in Indonesia, Antoni believes that religious based bylaws threaten national unity.

PSI General Chairperson Grace Natalie has also expressed a similar view saying that the PSI will never support bylaws based on the Bible or syariah [Islamic law].

Because, these bylaws restrict social freedom such as those which make it obligatory for students to wear certain clothing which can restrict the freedom of religious communities in performing their religious duties.

“The PSI will block the rise of injustice, discrimination and all forms of intolerance in this country. The PSI will never support perda [based on the] Bible or perda [based on] syariah. No longer will places of worship be allowed to be forcibly closed”, said Natalie during the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the PSI at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE-BSD) in Tangerang, Banten.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was PSI Anti Perda Agama, Kubu Prabowo: yang Begitu Cuma PKI.]

Source: https://www.suara.com/news/2018/11/14/134341/psi-anti-perda-agama-kubu-prabowo-yang-begitu-cuma-pki