When Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama repealed the ban on beer being sold in the city’s mini-markets, the move was inevitably met with resistance from some hardline groups who operate in the name of religion, like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
But luckily, Ahok is not the only high-ranking leader in the city who thinks progressively about alcohol. Yesterday, Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Moechgiyarto called upon all citizens to show religious tolerance for those who choose to drink alcohol.
“Religious tolerance is needed. That’s what I’m asking for. Don’t force our religion’s will upon others,” he said, as quoted by Merdeka.
He added that the respect should go both ways, in that those who drink alcohol shouldn’t get in the way of people who want to perform their religious rites, especially since Ramadan is coming up in a few days.
Moechgiyarto was speaking specifically in response to Habib Abdullah Hadar, deputy chairman of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), who previously requested that the Jakarta Metro Police get rid of alcohol being sold in mini-markets.
“Now in supermarkets alcoholic drinks are being sold. We can see cases of children brawling after drinking alcohol. Alcohol is also the cause of rape,” Habib said.
On that, Moechgiyarto said the police would only clamp down on alcohol that isn’t allowed under the existing regulations, such as homemade alcohol.
“There are regulations on alcoholic percentage. Certain percentages are allowed while certain other percentages aren’t. We will act against those that are not allowed [per the regulations]. We’ll confiscate them, because you can’t go against the rules,” he said.
Cheers to common sense, Pak Moechgiyarto.
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