Jakarta – Indonesia's peak Islamic body the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) has criticised the position taken by the United State which has strongly criticised one of the articles in the recently enacted Criminal Code (KUHP) that regulates cohabitation and sex outside of marriage.
MUI Deputy Chairperson Anwar Abbas highlighted a statement by the US Ambassador in Jakarta, Sung Yong Kim, who said that laws which regulate affairs in the home between adults could impact negatively on the investment climate in Indonesia.
According to Abbas, the statement had the quality of taking sides and had a threatening tone. The US appears to have an ambition of forcing or pressuring Indonesia to provide space for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) practices and sex outside of marriage.
They will then not invest here if the Indonesian government does not follow their views.
"We very clearly must deplore the attitude and views of the US government such as this because it reflects an attitude that is lacking friendship and fails to respect the Indonesian nation as a nation that is independent, sovereign, religious and cultural", said Abbas in a statement on Wednesday December 7.
Therefore Abbas said that if the US insists on pushing through this position and view, then the MUI explicitly declares "Go to Hell" with US aid and investment which damages the nation's religion and culture.
"If the United States continues to push through a position and view such as this then borrowing from the words of Bung [Brother] Karno we need to declare 'Go To Hell With Your Aid and Investation [sic]'", he said, referring to a famous speech by Indonesia's founding president Sukarno.
"As a nation that adheres to the philosophy of [the state ideology] Pancasila and is governed by the 1945 Constitution, what we seek and strive for is not only how we can become a materially advanced nation but also so that we can become a nation with morals and culture", he added.
Furthermore, Anwar requested that the US government respect the noble values that are held in the highest esteem by the Indonesian nation.
"Because we as a nation want to live with our own identity, not with the identity of other people or nations". he concluded.
The Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) was enacted into law at a House of Representatives (DPR) plenary meeting held on Tuesday December 6. The bill has now officially replaced the old Criminal Code (KUHP) which was a legacy of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia.
The previous enactment of the RKUHP was postponed in 2019 because from the start, the bill was seen by many as containing problematic articles that threaten democracy and civil freedoms.
The articles that were seen as problematic included insulting the president and state institutions, makar (treason, subversion, rebellion), the crime of demonstrating without a permit from the police, fake news and prohibitions on cohabitation and sex outside of marriage. (lna/DAL)
Notes
In March 1964, Indonesia's founding President Sukarno, in the course of dedicating a new building in Jakarta, began his speech by quoting from an editorial in a leading US weekly magazine. The editorial suggested that Sukarno refrain from aggressive actions against Malaysia, or the US government would stop all aid to his country. Sukarno then replied, “We receive aid from many countries and we are grateful for such aid. But when any nation offers aid with political strings attached, I say, ‘Go to hell with your aid!’”
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "MUI Sentil AS Kritik KUHP RI: Go To Hell dengan Bantuan & Investasimu".]
