Government to set policy on Islamic TV lectures

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher labeled presenters of the televised Islamic dawn lectures people with poor knowledge of Islam and lacking in credibility.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with a delegation of the association of religious teachers yesterday, Tarmizi said the government would soon add order to the programs by, among other things, preparing a set of guidelines for local producers.

"Many of the shows, during which viewers call in and pose questions, lack direction and reference," he said. "The presenters in those shows give answers which reveal their poor knowledge of Islam," he said.

"Many of the speakers base their answers on personal views rather than religious guidelines," he charged further. "This is dangerous."

The government would also issue a list of persons considered credible enough to be speakers on the shows, he said.

Four of the five private television stations -- AnTeve, TPI, RCTI and SCTV -- air religious teachings program at 5.30 a.m. During the holy fasting month of Ramadhan recently, the stations prepared special shows which featured prominent figures such as a rock singer, an entertainer who underwent a sex-change operation and comedians.

Syeh Aljufrie, a member of the religious teachers association, criticized the television stations' selection of presenters. "We have so many qualified preachers, but why did they choose comedians and even a transsexual?" he said.

Chairman Syukron Makmun called on the television stations to apply stricter standards for the programs, especially the ones which have question and answer sessions.

Head of the programming division of TPI, Feyzars Noor, pleaded for the government to value the concept upon which the religious programs are developed.

"Ours is a good and interactive program," he told The Jakarta Post. (01)