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Indonesia Muslim groups ‘concerned’ over Jokowi’s Iftar ban for officials
- Muslim groups argue state officials should be allowed to break fast together if they ‘keep it simple’ and avoid using the state budget
- Indonesian officials flaunting their lavish lifestyles on social media came under public scrutiny in the past few weeks, with some top officials sacked
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo this week banned cabinet ministers and top bureaucrats from gathering to break their fast during the ongoing Islamic holy month of Ramadan, amid public scrutiny of the officialdom’s lavish lifestyles.
But some Muslim groups are concerned about the impact of the ban on interpersonal relationships, and have argued that state officials should be allowed to break fast together if they “keep it simple” and avoid using the state budget.
Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan.
Abdul Mu’ti, general secretary at Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organisation, wrote in an Instagram post that the ban could affect Muslims’ relationship with one another as Ramadan is typically the time to renew bonds between people.
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“If not properly understood, the ban on breaking the fast can have an impact on reducing the atmosphere of kinship and [brotherhood] in the month of Ramadan,” Abdul said.
“As long as they don’t use the state budget and keep it simple, state officials shouldn’t be prohibited from holding iftar together.”
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Cholil Nafis, a chairman with Indonesian Ulema Council – the nation’s main Islamic scholar body – also criticised the ban, saying it “doesn’t align with religious tradition in Indonesia”.
“Breaking the fast together is good and is no different from inviting gatherings, meetings with supporters and other consolidation [events],” he said on Twitter.
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