Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian police has questioned Islamic figure Habib Rizieq Shihab over his claim that the new rupiah banknotes carry the picture of the banned Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) here on Monday.

The leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) was questioned for four hours starting from 11.15am to 03.00pm.

"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), today I had been quizzed as a witness with over 23 questions," he said after the questioning at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

Rizieq was grilled following a complaint to the police over his speech uploaded in Youtube about the picture in the new rupiah banknotes that he claimed was that of a hammer and sickle, which was the symbol of PKI.

The complaint was made by a citizen named Firmansyah and received by the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Commands Integrated Police Service Center with registration number Lp/125/I/2017/PMJ/Dit. Reskrimsus dated January 10, 2017.

"According to Bank Indonesia, it has used a rectoverso technology as a method to print the banknotes to secure them from being faked. I tell you that rectoverso technology can produce thousands or even millions of forms," Rizieq stated.

He said there were millions of forms available, but the Indonesian government had chosen the one with a hammer and sickle.

"We protested it. There are thousands or millions of rectoverso alternatives, but why was the hammer and sickle chosen. I was questioned on the context of being asked to give an explanation because I did not accuse, and so I gave the explanation and evidence," he added.

Rizieq asked the government to explain its decision to choose the picture that the public could perceive as the picture of a hammer and sickle symbol, which could be a dangerous thing.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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