Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani, Jakarta – Amien Rais, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN)'s consultative board, has called on the Religious Affairs Ministry to revoke the list of 200 recommended Islamic preachers it released recently.
Amien said the list would only stir public uproar. "Revoke it," he said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta on Monday, May 21, 2018.
He said the revocation of the list was the only option on this matter, adding that he was also opposed to the government's possible addendum to the list. "If [more names] are added to the list, how many thousand [names would be there?]. This will only spark further uproar and tumult," he said.
Amien also called for the resignation of Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin following the release of the list. "I say that among the characters of a great leader is that he is willing to step down should he make a wrong decision," he said.
Earlier, the ministry announced the names of 200 Islamic preachers it perceived as competent on the recommendations of multiple Islamic organizations.
Lukman said the ministry released the list in response to public demand for recommended preachers. He explained the list was still the first batch and subject to change.