The Muslim clerics, who will preach in Hong Kong, must bring along a letter issued by the Indonesian police notifying that they have never been involved in any radical activities
Hong Kong, China (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong has tightened the issuance process for preaching permits for Muslim clerics, who will meet Indonesian migrant workers, to curb the spread of misleading religious teachings and radicalism.

"We have begun tightening the process for issuing permits to enable us to monitor the spread of misleading religious teachings," Indonesian Consul General in Hong Kong Chalief Akbar Tjandraningrat stated here on Monday in response to the recent deportation of two Indonesians by the Hong Kong authorities.

Last March, the Hong Kong authorities had prohibited Perdana Ahmad Lakoni and Sahal Khan from entering the territory based on allegations that they were "terrorists" and had deported them to Indonesia, he noted.

Lakoni and Khan flew into the city on the invitation of the Indonesian migrant workers to serve as an imam (leading a prayer) and a preacher at a prayer gathering due to be held at Just Dance Cafe Fortress Hill, he remarked.

"Taking a cue from this case, we have started evaluating all Muslim organizations of the Indonesian migrant workers and have tightened the permit issuance process for the invited clerics. Our message is how they can be more careful and selective," he affirmed.

For approving the Indonesian Muslim clerics who will visit Hong Kong, the consulate is working with the United Indonesian Muslim Organizations (Posmi).

The consulate is also cooperating with the Hong Kong authorities by sharing intelligence information to enable it to anticipate the spread of radicalism among Indonesian migrant workers, he emphasized.

"The Muslim clerics, who will preach in Hong Kong, must bring along a letter issued by the Indonesian police notifying that they have never been involved in any radical activities," he stated.

Meanwhile, one of the executive board members of the Islamic Union of Hong Kong Abdul Muhaemin Karim remarked that his organization has conducted a socialization program to disseminate information among all Posmi members regarding the tightening of the permit issuance process.

"The new process will come into effect in September. We are coordinating with the Indonesian Consulate General," he said, adding that about 20 different groups of Indonesian migrant workers hold their weekly prayer gatherings on Sundays.

"Most of the Muslim clerics are from Central and East Java as the Indonesian migrant workers are predominantly from the two provinces," he pointed out.

Hong Kong is home to numerous Indonesians, who work as domestic helpers.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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