"Security personnel need not adopt an excessive approach since this (Shihab's arrival) is just an ordinary and regular matter," the coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs stated at his office here on Monday.
Securing the Soekarno Hatta International Airport area, which has turned out to be a meeting point for crowds looking to welcome the arrival of Shihab and his family members at the airport's Terminal 3 and FPI's headquarters in Petamburan, Jakarta, is deemed necessary.
"Owing to the rising number of people keen to greet him, security should be doubled up at the place, but it should not be done excessively," Mahfud stated, adding that Shihab must also be guarded right from the airport to his residence in Petamburan.
"There must not be repressive acts. Habib Rizieq and his entourage must securely and safely be guarded until they arrive at their residence," he stated.
Mahfud MD is optimistic that Rizieq’s return would usher in goodness for Indonesia as a result of an "Akhlaq Revolution" that he has officially declared prior to his return from an over three-year self-exile in Saudi Arabia.
According to Wikipedia, "Akhlaq is most commonly translated in English dictionaries as: disposition, nature, temper, ethics, morals or manners (of a person)".
Born in Jakarta on August 24, 1965, Shihab obtained his bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies from Saudi Arabia's King Saud University with honor (cum laude) and his master’s degree from Malaysia's Universiti Malaya.
Known as an expert in Indonesia's state ideology of Pancasila, he is an influential ulema, who is regarded by numerous Muslims in Indonesia as their "imam," or leader.
Shihab is also known as a central figure behind the historic moment of the 212 rally that the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) had held on December 2, 2016.
At that time, some seven million Indonesian Muslims coming from different parts of the country and abroad partook in the rally to demand the prosecution of then Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) after he was accused of insulting Islam. Related news: FPI, Rizieq do not endanger Indonesia's unity, integrity: analyst
Related news: Habib Rizieq responds to police summon
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Syaiful H, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
