PM Goh expresses concerns over radicalism in RI<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has expressed concern
\nover possible political instability in Indonesia due to rising
\nreligious extremism in the country.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with Indonesian Muslim leaders here on Tuesday,
\nthe Prime Minister said political instability in Indonesia would
\naffect the entire region, including Singapore.<\/p>\n
"He was just airing his concern over the possibility. We urged
\nhim to support Indonesia and not just dwell on the worst
\npossibilities," Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi said
\nafter the meeting.<\/p>\n
Muhammdiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, who also attended
\nthe meeting, said Goh underlined that Singapore would suffer
\nalong with Indonesia if Jakarta failed to deal with terrorism.<\/p>\n
"He asked Muslim leaders to hold a dialog with radical groups
\nregarding the issue, which we planned to do," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
Goh was in Indonesia for a two-day visit to express support
\nfor President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the current fight against
\nterrorism, especially after the Bali bombings on Oct. 12 that
\nkilled over 190 people and injured some 300 others, mostly
\nforeigners.<\/p>\n
Singapore has repeatedly urged Indonesia to take a tougher
\nline on radical groups in the country.<\/p>\n
The city-state arrested members of extremist group Jamaah
\nIslamiyah long before it was declared a terrorist organization by
\nthe United Nations last month.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions that
\nterrorism is related to religion, underlining that Islam does not
\ncondone violence.<\/p>\n
Goh, on his last day in Indonesia, hosted on Tuesday the
\nmeeting with the Muslim leaders, including noted Muslim scholars
\nNurcholish Madjid and Azyumardi Azra.<\/p>\n
Syafii said the country's largest Muslim organizations, NU and
\nMuhammadiyah, guaranteed that the majority of Muslims in
\nIndonesia were moderate and inclusive.<\/p>\n
NU has almost 40 million members, while Muhammadiyah has 30
\nmillions followers in the world's most populous Muslim country.<\/p>\n
"They (Singapore) see Indonesian Muslims from afar, and these
\nsmall groupings (of radicals) are very vocal, as if they
\nrepresent the Muslim community.<\/p>\n
"Goh says he will be very happy with the guarantee that the
\nmajority will determine the country's situation," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said that during the meeting, the Muslim leaders tried
\nto convince Goh that terrorism had nothing to do with religion.<\/p>\n
"We expect foreign countries not to make this mistaken
\nconclusion, and for Indonesian Muslims we hope they see the
\nterrorism issue from a legal standpoint and see that those who
\nare guilty should be punished," he said.<\/p>\n
The Muslim preacher said he hoped the meeting would help Goh
\nchange his view of Indonesian Muslims, and not be deceived by the
\nsmall radical groups.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the Muslim leaders also urged the leaders
\nof Singapore to refrain from making comments linking Indonesian
\nMuslims to terrorism.<\/p>\n
"Most Indonesian Muslims are very concerned about such
\nmisperceptions," Hasyim said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pm-goh-expresses-concerns-over-radicalism-in-ri-1447893297",
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