Tjahjo Kumolo Bans Niqab in His Ministry

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN RB) Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said that he entrusted the policy on the use of the niqab and cropped trousers for civil apparatus (ASN) to each government institution.

“Each ministry or institution has the right to regulate [the matter],” said Tjahjo at the Kepatihan Complex, Yogyakarta, Monday, November 4.

The minister said the policy on employees’ dress code had been regulated by each institutional head. For instance, ASN in the PAN RB Ministry was required to don a white uniform every working day and the Korpri uniform on a national day.

“I think employees should not wear the niqab in the office,” Tjahjo underlined. However, he let those people wear it outside the office. “That’s people's right. But in the office, there are certain rules.”

Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, Wednesday, October 30, at Best Western Hotel Jakarta, talked about potential security threats from the use of the niqab at governmental areas. He said the ministry was studying the ban.

The former home affairs minister supported Fachrul’s policy to ban the niqab in the Religious Affairs Ministry. “Pak minister [Fachrul] wants to manage his office [including on employees’ dress code],” he added.

Tjahjo Kumolo further asserted there would be no written circular concerning the regulation on the use of the niqab as it was fully the authority of each institutional head. However, he barred employees in the PAN RB Ministry from donning the niqab in the office.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO