Indonesia Presidential Candidates Not to Take Quran Recitation Test
The alternative presidential candidacy test was first proposed by Aceh’s Da’i Association Chairman, Tgk Marsyuddin Ishak, in Banda Aceh on Saturday, December 29.
“In order to drop the polemic on how Islamic a candidate is, we offer an idea of having candidates test their Quran reciting abilities,” said Tgk Marsyuddin.
Answering to the challenge, the Widodo Campaign team secretary Hasto Kristiyanto said that his team finds the challenge unnecessary and that a leader is not measured by the ability to recite the Quran, but rather his religious belief.
“Issues related to the nation should not be mixed with religious issues that should be used to build the civilization together. A person’s religious belief is not measured by their claims but actions,” said Hasto, who’s also the secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) on Sunday, December 30, en.tempo.co reported.
Meanwhile, the Subianto via its debater Sodik Mudjahid said that testing candidates’ Quran reciting ability is unnecessary and that he considers one’s understanding of their belief much more important.
