Soothsayers in high demand ahead of N. Sumatra polls<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
Abdul Hafizron's office has smelled fragrant for a week. A large
\ndish filled with jasmine flowers, roses, cananga and magnolias
\nsits on the right side of his table.<\/p>\n
Four photographs of regental candidate pairs from a number of
\nregencies in North Sumatra running for election on June 27 have
\nbeen placed among the flowers.<\/p>\n
The photographs among the flowers can be seen by anyone
\nsitting across from the bespectacled man.<\/p>\n
However, when asked about the candidates by The Jakarta Post,
\nHafizron was reluctant to talk about it for fear of an issue
\nbeing made of it in the media.<\/p>\n
Hafizron, a member of the campaign team for the four pairs of
\ncandidates, said he had placed the flowers with the photographs
\non his work table in a bid to accomplish his task of helping the
\ncandidates win the elections.<\/p>\n
\"This is just a prerequisite for the election process. I did
\nit upon the instruction of a soothsayer who is assisting me for
\nthe campaign,\" said Hafizron in his office on Friday.<\/p>\n
Hafizron -- who is campaigning for candidates from Labuhan
\nBatu, Mandailing Natal, South Tapanuli and Medan regencies --
\nbelieves the role of soothsayers is crucial in helping the
\ncandidates win the election in their respective regencies.<\/p>\n
\"It's not that I'm associating God with other beings, but the
\nassistance of a supernatural expert is important because he can
\nprotect the candidates from evil influences that could be a risk
\nto them,\" said Hafizron, adding that the candidates knew about
\nthe services being rendered by the soothsayer.<\/p>\n
According to Hafizron, the candidates do not mind him using a
\nsoothsayer as long as it was for their good.<\/p>\n
An expert in supernaturalism and soothsayer, Rudianto, who
\nlives in Medan, acknowledged that many regental candidates had
\nrequested assistance from soothsayers to win elections this year.
\nDue to the current high demand for such services, Rudianto said
\nhe was competing with many spiritualists from Java who had come
\nto North Sumatra to offer their services to regental candidates.<\/p>\n
The stout, 31-year-old man is fortunate that, despite the
\nstiff competition, many regental candidates have asked for his
\nservices. He has apparently turned down requests from candidates
\nwhom he considered not upright.<\/p>\n
\"Many regental candidates have requested my help, but I don't
\naccept just anyone. I help only those with good character,\" said
\nRudianto, who claimed he had inherited the skill from his
\nparents.<\/p>\n
When asked how much each candidate paid him, Rudianto said it
\nwas up to the candidate as he had no fixed rate.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra's Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) leader
\nMahmud Aziz Siregar said regental candidates who sought help from
\nsoothsayers to win elections were considered to be engaging in
\npolytheism, which was prohibited in Islam. Azis explained that
\nusing a soothsayer was irrational because only God could help
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"To win or lose is God's will, so pray to God instead of
\nengaging in improper ways, as it's called syirik (associating God
\nwith other beings),\" said Aziz, who said he had once been
\napproached by a Medan mayoral candidate requesting to be blessed
\nso that the candidate could win.<\/p>\n
Direct regional elections in North Sumatra will be held in 13
\nmunicipalities and regencies on June 27.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soothsayers-in-high-demand-ahead-of-n-sumatra-polls-1447893297",
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