Let Westerners be heathens

I am commenting on the letter from Mr. Vleugels, A neutral president (The Jakarta Post, May 12).

I agree with Mr. Vleugels that a president must be neutral in leading the country, but I absolutely disagree with the idea that we have to find a president who does not believe in God. Let alone with the idea that "A president without religion is an asset". Perhaps your country's president has no religion and maybe you have no religion either.

For some Westerners, to have or not to have religion is not a big deal, as we can see from their lifestyles. It's hard to imagine how a man could live without a religion and without believing in God. You are nothing without God's blessing. Religion or God should not be blamed if someone does something wrong in his lifetime. It has nothing to do with religion and God.

I think every religion teaches us the best things to do in our lives. Leaders must act wisely and do good things according to God's wishes. You are going too far by saying that Indonesia should elect a president who does not believe in God. Our country is not a secular country, neither is it a religious state. Yet the government cannot be separated from religion and the belief in God.

To be neutral does not necessarily mean that a president should not profess a religion. I hope Mr. Vleugels can understand what I mean.

MUHAMMAD RUSDI

Jakarta