REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives Mahfudz Siddiq remarked that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group is unlikely to flourish in Indonesia.
"Indonesia may not be an ISIS base. Al-Qaeda does not agree with ISIS," Siddiq stated here on Wednesday (25/3).
According to Siddiq, the base of ISIS is in the Middle East. ISIS wants to establish an Islamic caliphate, and it must be done in the Arab countries.
Therefore, ISIS will not build an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia.
"They only mobilize radical groups in other countries such as Indonesia," he said.
Siddiq pointed out that two government proposals have become an important issue. First, the government proposes to implement a law to punish those involved in conducting propaganda.
"The government can prevent harmful actions and detain someone directly without any conditions," he explained.
The second government proposal concerns the revocation of citizenship of people joining terrorist groups such as ISIS.
In connection with a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to revoke the citizenship of people joining ISIS, Mahfudz argued that the step could not be taken.
"This article is dangerous because who will assign the radical label? It is subjective. It should use the criminal law," he affirmed.
Citizens who join ISIS will generally throw away their passports.
Earlier, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called for a thorough investigation if there were indeed indications that funds linked to the ISIS were flowing into the country.
"It must be found out. What the funds are for and where are they from," he said at his office here on Wednesday.
He stated that investigation must be carried out thoroughly in order to gain clarity on the issue.
He emphasized the need for comprehensive investigation, so that no suspicions would arise regarding foreign transactions connected to economic activities.
It was important to be vigilant about the flow of ISIS funds, taking into consideration the terror group's international network.
Former chief of the State Intelligence Agency A.M. Hendropriyono affirmed that ISIS is posing a direct threat to Indonesia through the cyber world.
"We are now fighting against terrorists through the cyber world. This remains dangerous," he stated after attending an international conference on terrorists' threats and ISIS here on Monday.
He remarked that Indonesia must unite to deal with terrorists' threats launched through various forms of media.
National Deputy Police Chief Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti has urged the government to immediately issue a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to deal with followers of radical groups such as ISIS in the country.
"Indeed, it would be better if a Perppu could be immediately issued or current anti-terror laws revised to overcome the ISIS issue to provide a clear legal basis. ISIS is banned, but no legal basis is available for it," he stated on Monday.
He noted that in dealing with terrorist actions in the country, the police have, so far, used anti-terror laws and the Criminal Code as the legal basis.
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