TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta's new police chief, Insp. Gen. Mohammad Fadil Imran, said that the crowds' gatherings during FPI leader Rizieq Shihab's return, and the event he held in Petamburan last week, jeopardize the government's effort to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. These events can lead to mass transmissions that could put all coronavirus control efforts, which have taken up Rp685 trillion of the state budget, to waste.

"[Shihab] came and gathered crowds. It ruined everything. Must I stay quiet about it?" Fadil said at Arrahmah Center Foundation in Kramatjati, East Jakarta on November 26.

The police said he has nothing against preaching or celebrating Prophet Muhammad's birthday, as long as they do not violate health protocols with regards to the current pandemic. "Now look, many in Petamburan tested positive, in Tebet too. [The causes were] religious gatherings," he remarked.

Fadil, the former police chief of East Java, said that thousands of people in the province celebrated the prophet's birthday online—not violating any health protocol.

"Everything depends on what we intended. If we aim for good; we do good, we spread love. If our intention is bad, no matter how we cover it up with—morals or religion—a sound mind can always tell the difference," Fadil said.

Thousands of people attended the Prophet's birthday at FPI headquarters in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, and Tebet, South Jakarta. After the event, the police launched an investigation to look for possible violations of the Quarantine Law.

The police have also summoned everyone who could be held accountable for allowing the gatherings to take place, including Gubernur Jakarta Anies Baswedan, his deputy Ahmad Riza Patria, the Tourism Office head, and eight officials of the Jakarta Provincial Government.

The marriage officiant and event organizer of Rizieq Shihab's daughter's wedding ceremony were also questioned.

Read: COVID-19 Task Force to Determine FPI Crowd's Sanction in Bogor

M Julnis Firmansyah