Jakarta, NU Online
"Whether one is a true Muslim or not, it depends on what is in here," presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri said while pointing a finger at her heart.
Megawati made the statement on Thursday night when asked to comment on allegations she was not Islamic enough.<>
Speaking to the media after attending the launch of a book titled "Islam in the Frame of Indonesia and Humanity, a Historical Reflection"." written by former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, she said much of her knowledge and understanding of Islam was based on what her father, Indonesia`s first president, Soekarno, had taught her.
Megawati said Islam is a friendly and peace loving religion. "My father always taught us that Islam is a friendly religion," she was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
However, the presidential candidate who has picked Prabowo Subianto as her running mate in the upcoming presidential race, regretted the reality in the field which is full of violence.
Indonesia will hold its second direct presidential election on July 8, 2009, and the open campaign will be held from June 12 to July 4.
To other presidential candidate pairs are incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhyono-Boediono, and M Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto.
The national campaign team of the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-Win) ticket recently stated it had never politicized religion to win people`s sympathy ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
"There is no politicization of religion. It so happened that the wives of our presidential and vice presidential hopefuls have always been wearing headscarves," Indra Jaya Piliang, a spokesman of the JK-Win campaign team, said.
He made the statement to counter an allegation that the presidential hopefuls` wives were wearing headscarves and Muslim dresses to get public sympathy.
Piliang said the two ladies had been wearing headscarves (hijab) far before their husbands became presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Early this week, religious figures active in a national inter-faith group issued a joint statement calling on the country`s presidential and vice presidential candidates not to use religious issues in their campaigns.
The chairman of the Indonesian Ulema (Council (MUI), Amidhan, said campaigns raising religion issues would not be productive. (dar)
"Whether one is a true Muslim or not, it depends on what is in here," presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri said while pointing a finger at her heart.
Megawati made the statement on Thursday night when asked to comment on allegations she was not Islamic enough.<>
Speaking to the media after attending the launch of a book titled "Islam in the Frame of Indonesia and Humanity, a Historical Reflection"." written by former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, she said much of her knowledge and understanding of Islam was based on what her father, Indonesia`s first president, Soekarno, had taught her.
Megawati said Islam is a friendly and peace loving religion. "My father always taught us that Islam is a friendly religion," she was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
However, the presidential candidate who has picked Prabowo Subianto as her running mate in the upcoming presidential race, regretted the reality in the field which is full of violence.
Indonesia will hold its second direct presidential election on July 8, 2009, and the open campaign will be held from June 12 to July 4.
To other presidential candidate pairs are incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhyono-Boediono, and M Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto.
The national campaign team of the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-Win) ticket recently stated it had never politicized religion to win people`s sympathy ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
"There is no politicization of religion. It so happened that the wives of our presidential and vice presidential hopefuls have always been wearing headscarves," Indra Jaya Piliang, a spokesman of the JK-Win campaign team, said.
He made the statement to counter an allegation that the presidential hopefuls` wives were wearing headscarves and Muslim dresses to get public sympathy.
Piliang said the two ladies had been wearing headscarves (hijab) far before their husbands became presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Early this week, religious figures active in a national inter-faith group issued a joint statement calling on the country`s presidential and vice presidential candidates not to use religious issues in their campaigns.
The chairman of the Indonesian Ulema (Council (MUI), Amidhan, said campaigns raising religion issues would not be productive. (dar)
