TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi asserted that he would take firm action against state civil apparatus, SOE officials or staffers in the government areas who were influenced by radical ideology.

Fachrul made the statement following the data by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) in 2018 that revealed 41 mosques in the ministerial areas and SOE were exposed to radicalism.

“I will just make an order, whoever having radical thoughts is out (fired)!” said Fachrul, who was a former commissioner of PT Antam, during an exclusive interview with Tempo at his office, Monday, October 28.

Like in the military, Fachrul reiterated, a soldier having radical thoughts could be dismissed immediately. “To a military officer, I’d ask ‘are you devoted to Indonesia or not. If you are not, you violate soldier’s oath, Sapta Marga, you are discharged’,” said the retired general of Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

However, the minister would take a different approach to deal with common people. “We will issue a warning first,” Fachrul added.

In a bid to tackle radicalism from penetrating the community, he said that the ministry would inspect mosques and issue a warning to the mosque management.

“I have ordered that the mosque management must be from internal people. So if a preacher gives odd sermons, don’t invite him again. Otherwise, management is the wrong one. That’s it,” said Fachrul with a smile.

Fachrul Razi was appointed as Religious Affairs Minister by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday, Oct. 23. A week after his inauguration, Fachrul announced that he would focus on combating radicalism as instructed by the President.

DEWI NURITA