REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin conveyed an apology over the issuance of list of 200 preachers. Polemic on the list has created a commotion in the society.

"On behalf of Religious Affairs Ministry, as Religious Affairs Minister I apologize to those who feel uncomfortable about being on the list," he said in Jakarta on Monday (May 21).

Lukman asserted there was no political motive in the release of 200 preachers recommended by the ministry. He explained the list was made based on inputs from religious mass organizations, grand mosques and others.

"If we do involve in practical politics then we will only recommend preachers with a lots of followers," he said.

In facts, some preachers who have millons of followers were not on the list. Lukman said it happened because the ministry has not received inputs from the society.

Last week, Religious Affairs Ministry issued a list of 200 preachers. Prominent preachers such as Yusuf Mansur, KH Abdullah Gymnastiar, KH Cholil Nafis, KH Didin Hafidhuddin, Hidayat Nur Wahid, Professor Mahfud MD, KH Said Agil Siraj, and KH Nasaruddin Umar are on the list.

Arifin Ilham, Professor Quraish Shihab, Irfan Syauqi Beik, Emha Ainun Najib, Alwi Shihab, and Adian Husaini are also on the list.

However, some preachers felt uncomfortable with the list since other prominent preachers were not listed yet. Religious Affairs Minister said the list is dynamics and can be developed further.

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