Regional Govts to Involve Religious Leaders in Tackling Covid-19

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Center for Interreligious Harmony (PKUB) head Nifasri expressed his hope that the Regional Governments pay attention to the role of religious leaders in tackling the spread of Covid-19 in their respective regions that is now lacking.  

"Religious leaders are very effective in convincing people in terms of religion, especially about the importance of implementing health protocols in places of worship," said Nifasri. The statement was conveyed to religious leaders and community organization members in Bekasi district during the Workshop on the Development of Multicultural Insights in Religious Moderation during the Covid-19 New Normal Period as reported by Religious Affairs Ministry, Wednesday, 22 July.

Nifasri admitted local governments in several regions have not paid attention to religious leaders and community organization members, because of their lack of awareness of the important role of religious leaders in dealing with problems in their regions.

To that end, the PKUB and regental/municipal Interreligious Harmony Forum (FKUB) intensify their dissemination efforts by involving religious leaders and field officers in handling the spread of Covid-19.

"Actually, some regions have involved religious leaders in handling the spread of Covid-19," he explained.

In the future, Nifasri expected that more local governments will pay attention to the important role of FKUB in helping to deal with problems occurring  in the region. "Not only the problem of religious conflicts and houses of worship, but also other problems that have the potential to cause unrest in society," said Nifasri.

Workshop on the Development of Multicultural Insights in Religious Moderation during the Covid-19 New Normal Period was held by the PKUB in an effort to gather recommendations that would serve as the basis for the stipulation of laws and regulations on Religious Harmony. (Translator: Erik Limantara)