ID :
64046
Wed, 06/03/2009 - 17:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64046
The shortlink copeid
JK-WIN CAMPAIGN TEAM DENIES POLITICIZING RELIGION
Jakarta, June 3 (ANTARA) - The national campaign team of the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-Win) ticket stated it had never politicized religion to win people's sympathy ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
"There is no politicization of religion. It so happened that the wives of our presidential and vice presidential hopefuls have always been wearing headscarves," Indra Jaya Piliang, a spokesman of the JK-Win campaign team, said at the JK-Win Chemistry Media Center, here on Wednesday.
He made the statement to counter an allegation saying that the presidential hopefuls' wives were wearing headscarves and Muslim dresses to get public sympathy.
Piliang said the two ladies had been wearing headscarves (hijab) far before their husbands became presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, Pompida Hidayatullah, another spokesperson of the JK-Win campaign team, said there was no scenario or political element whatsoever, because the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls' wives have worn hijab since long time ago naturally.
"Please check who have politicized religion," she said.
Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto respect and preserve religious tolerance, she said.
Early this week, cross religion prominent figures issued a joint call in Jakarta asking presidential and vice presidential hopefuls not to use religious issues in their campaigns.
They asked the candidates to raise substantial issues and conduct quality campaigns, rather than debating symbolic matters.
"It would be better if the campaign substances are of quality, such as on poverty and unemployment, not those of no substance such as on dresses of the presidential/vice presidential wives," Andreas A. Yewangoe, chairman of the Indonesian Churches Association (PGI) said recently.
Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema (Muslim Scholars) Council (MUI) Amidhan said campaigns bringing religion issues would not be productive.
"A request that wives of the presidential and vice presidential candidates should use hijab is irrelevant," he said.
Indonesia will hold its second direct presidential election on July 8, 2009, and the open campaign will be held from June 12 to July 4. ***
"There is no politicization of religion. It so happened that the wives of our presidential and vice presidential hopefuls have always been wearing headscarves," Indra Jaya Piliang, a spokesman of the JK-Win campaign team, said at the JK-Win Chemistry Media Center, here on Wednesday.
He made the statement to counter an allegation saying that the presidential hopefuls' wives were wearing headscarves and Muslim dresses to get public sympathy.
Piliang said the two ladies had been wearing headscarves (hijab) far before their husbands became presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, Pompida Hidayatullah, another spokesperson of the JK-Win campaign team, said there was no scenario or political element whatsoever, because the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls' wives have worn hijab since long time ago naturally.
"Please check who have politicized religion," she said.
Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto respect and preserve religious tolerance, she said.
Early this week, cross religion prominent figures issued a joint call in Jakarta asking presidential and vice presidential hopefuls not to use religious issues in their campaigns.
They asked the candidates to raise substantial issues and conduct quality campaigns, rather than debating symbolic matters.
"It would be better if the campaign substances are of quality, such as on poverty and unemployment, not those of no substance such as on dresses of the presidential/vice presidential wives," Andreas A. Yewangoe, chairman of the Indonesian Churches Association (PGI) said recently.
Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema (Muslim Scholars) Council (MUI) Amidhan said campaigns bringing religion issues would not be productive.
"A request that wives of the presidential and vice presidential candidates should use hijab is irrelevant," he said.
Indonesia will hold its second direct presidential election on July 8, 2009, and the open campaign will be held from June 12 to July 4. ***
