Deputy Chair of House of Representatives and State Secretary Meet Rizieq Shihab in Petamburan

Deputy Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi met with Islamic Front Solidarity (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab at his residence in Petamburan, Jakarta on Saturday, 7 March.

“Yes, (we met with Habib Rizieq), it was yesterday afternoon,” said Habib Rizieq Shihab’s legal representative Aziz Yanuar when contacted on Monday, 9 March.

Among those who participated in the meeting was Aziz himself. He stated that the meeting was a routine consultation between government envoys and officials with Islamic scholars to discuss and exchange views.

Aziz noted that his team supports President Prabowo’s good policies and provides correction on policies that are less effective.

“Exceptional achievements worthy of appreciation from the president and his administration – those that are good and correct, we support; those that need improvement, we correct and remind. The purpose is good, the method is good, and the timing is right,” he said.

The meeting took place following President Prabowo Subianto’s earlier invitation to Islamic scholars, leaders of Islamic mass organisations, and pesantren heads to the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 5 March.

In that earlier meeting, Rizieq did not attend and was represented by his son-in-law, who is also the Secretary of the Shura Council of the Islamic Front Solidarity.