REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Deception case involving spiritual leader Dimas Kanjeng Taat Pribadi (DKTP) has caught the attention of Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
To prevent such case, he has urged people in the country to learn religious knowledge from the experts.
"The teacher must have competence in delivering religious teachings," Lukman said after the inauguration of Ma'had Aly Islamic Boarding School Maslakul Huda Kajen, Margoyoso Subdistrict, Pati regency, Central of Java on Thursday (9/29).
Lukman said people also need to know the figure and track record of the teacher.
The government, he added, is not in a position to assess whether Dimas teaching was a deviation or not.
"The Islamic scholars and clerics has the authority to assess it and we will hear the statement from Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), including Islamic organizations, such as the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and others," Lukman said.
Beside two murder cases, the police also indicated Dimas has deceived thousands of his disciples by claiming able to multiply money. The Padepokan DKTP recruiters asked each disciple to grant their spiritual leader Rp25 million gradually.
Dimas has thousands of disciples scattered around different regions. Although Dimas base camp is located in Probolinggo, East Java, his followers came from various regions, including from Kudus, Central Java.