PB HMI Urges Public to Prioritise Rationality in Addressing Jusuf Kalla Controversy

Jakarta – The Central Board of the Indonesian Islamic Student Association (PB HMI) has spoken out on the public dynamics surrounding national figure Jusuf Kalla’s statements on religious issues, which have led to legal proceedings. PB HMI stressed the importance of maintaining public clarity of thought and the principle of tabayyun to ensure that this polemic does not harm social cohesion.

PB HMI General Chairman Bagas Kurniawan stated that Jusuf Kalla’s statements must be viewed in their entirety and proportionately. According to him, JK’s track record in resolving conflicts in Indonesia should be a consideration in interpreting his narrative.

“Separating text, context, and interpretation is a primary prerequisite for reading a statement fairly. Reducing the narrative risks producing deviations in meaning that muddy the public space,” said Bagas in a written statement in Jakarta, quoted on Friday, 17 April 2026.

PB HMI highlighted six main points. One of them is criticism of the tendency to simplify cross-religious issues. Bagas assessed that theological issues cannot be drawn into a ‘black-and-white’ judgement because they are vulnerable to misrepresentations if interpreted outside the internal framework of those beliefs.

Furthermore, PB HMI reminded that legal instruments should be used objectively and not as tools for escalating identity conflicts. Bagas invited all elements of the nation to prioritise deliberative dialogue to maintain the ‘knot of nationhood’.

“We have a moral responsibility not to muddy the situation through hasty interpretations. The social condition must be nurtured through mature thinking and communication ethics,” he concluded.

It is known that the polemic over the statements in a sermon by the 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla (JK), has had long-lasting repercussions. The Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) along with Catholic Youth officially reported JK to the SPKT of Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Sunday night, 12 April 2026.

The report was filed because the statements in the sermon that circulated widely on social media were deemed to cause unrest in society. GAMKI General Chairman Sahat Martin Philip Sinurat stated that they came to Metro Jaya Police Headquarters representing around 19 Christian institutions and community organisations. Previously, they held a meeting at the GAMKI Secretariat on Jalan Cirebon to address the polemic.