Fajarasia.co – Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Rafli Amar responded to Singapore’s Minister of Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, regarding the fanatical supporters of Ustaz Abdul Somad (UAS).
Through the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs website, Shanmugam stated that UAS supporters threatened by mentioning the tragedy of 9 September 2001.
Responding to this, Rafli stated that fanaticism is basically a positive attitude for religious people.
“Fanaticism is a positive thing for the adherents of the religion concerned in carrying out religious law to increase faith in piety,” said Rafli to reporters, Tuesday (24/5/2022).
However, Rafli explained that fanaticism can also have a negative impact if you don’t accept the truth according to other religions.
“If we impose our version of truth, while other religions teach other religions, of course this has the potential to cause intolerance,” he said.
Regarding the issue of radicalism attached to UAS, he stated that each country has its own parameters. So that Indonesia and Singapore are very likely to have differences in the assessment in question.
Singapore has its own parameters, and it is strict with the rules. So it was enforced not because of UAS, but because of the observation of the narrative delivered by UAS. So this does not mean that it is only related to certain religions, if other religions that turn out to be leading to violent extremism they also refuse because they have their own rules of law. Of course, in that context, it is the right of the Singaporean state, we cannot intervene,” he explained.
Previously, astonishing news came from the famous lecturer Ustadz Abdul Somad. The figure who is familiarly called UAS was refused entry by the Singapore immigration authorities.
Suddenly Singapore’s policy also invites a reaction. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Singapore immediately communicated with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore.
“The refusal of entry is based on the reason that you are not eligible to get an entry permit based on immigration policies (being ineligible for the issue of a pass under current immigration policies),” explained the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.
“The rejection was made to ASB and 6 members of its entourage,” said the report from the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.****
