Democrat Party faction regrets Tifatul`s statement

Jakarta, Indonesia (News Today) - A member of the Democrat Party faction in parliament said the faction regretted Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring`s recent statement in which he drew a parallel between the issue around an artists` porn video and the inter-religious debate on Jesus Christ`s crucifixion.

"It is a quite far-fetched comparison. The motive for making the statement must be questioned and it is much regretted that it should come from the mouth of a public official holding the post of Communication and Information Minister." Paula Sinjal, a Democrat Party representative in the House of Representatives Commission I (foreign, defense, security and information affairs), said.

The Democrat Party faction in the House was disappointed about Minister Tifatul`s statement, she said in a statement from Canberra, Australia, where she was making a working visit on Sunday night.

She said it was improper for Tifatul to have made the statement in his capacity as Communication and Information Minister "because we in House Commission I think his statement shows strong religious bias and is deeply hurting the feelings of the Christian community."

Paula said Tifatul must officially clarify his statement and apologize to the Christian community because as a cabinet minister he should not have made it, the less so because it totally lacked any relevance to the artists sex video case.

She said she had asked the House Commission I chairman to take followup steps on Tifatul`s statement as the communication and information ministry was the commission`s work partner in the executive branch of government.

"This is important to settle the case immediately so that it will not create a new problem or a public controversy which could eventually harm our image as a pluralist nation." Paula said.

Source : antara

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