Do not politicize religion
Do not politicize religion
From Rakyat Merdeka
Political observer Arbi Sanit has said that Habibie and his associates will, by hook or by crook, resort to money politics and the politicizing of religion to maintain the pro-status-quo regime.
This money politics and the act of politicizing religion seem to reduce the role of Islam only to that of seeking power and money. One can see on television that there are more Muslim teachers or leaders than scientists who have been given presents and granted facilities. It seems as if this state would be transformed into "a State of Praying People" or "a Slogan State" and not "a Workers' State". The president and his ministers seem to have visited pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) more frequently than research institutions or universities.
Muslim clerics are often invited to the place and these events are usually especially reported in the mass media, particularly on television.
One recent case related to the politicizing of religion in an attempt to block Megawati's bid for the presidency. All these strategies have been aimed at shaping public opinion into believing that the ruling party or the government is synonymous with defenders of Islam or even with Islam itself.
As for me, in the case of respect for God, it is Megawati that must be highly praised because she has hardly ever manipulated religion to cheat the masses of her party in search of worldly power.
Megawati highly respects God by means of honoring God's grandeur in the world, which is none other than religion. She has never soiled religion through money politics or the politicizing of religion. To us, money politics and the politicizing of religion are tantamount to acts to ridicule religion and even destroy the good image of religion and are in no way acts that defend religion.
In the case of presidential candidacy and the gender issue, just remember that God has never set one's mastery of science and university degree as a prerequisite to go to heaven. What God requires in this respect are honesty, justice and morality.
University degrees mean nothing if they are used only to protect corruptors, hooligans, rioters, provocateurs, kidnappers and even murders. University degrees are worthless if they are used to protect acts of spending people's money to pursue one's great interest in high technology or acts to manipulate or even siphon off state money (in the case of the social safety net funds).
It is hoped that the presidential race will be won by one who respects God.
HARYO MATARAM
Jakarta