Keep calm on the Novita Hotel incident

Jakarta, NU Online
Being widely reported from Jambi exactly at the Novita Hotel located on Jalan Gatot Subroto No. 44, Pasar Jambi, Sungai Asam, Ps. Jambi, there was a word Allah found in a Christmas tree. The news went viral in social media and was very disturbing.

Chairman of the Ansor Youth Movement Yaqut Cholil Qoumas confirmed the veracity of the news to the chairman of GP Ansor Jambi, Imam Sibawayh, popularly known as Gus Tutut.

Gus Tutut told NU Online here on Saturday that he had formerly come to the Jambi Police headquarters to know the truth of the news.

After the incident, according to Imam, the authorities were looking for the perpetrator that allegedly tried to worsen the situation.

The Jambi municipal administration in Jambi province has decided to temporarily suspend the operation of a four-star hotel following allegations that the hotel’s management erected a Christmas tree with the word Allah [God] in Arabic script as one of its ornaments.

Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha said the decision to close down Novita Hotel had been taken to cool down religious tensions related to the matter. The police have also started to investigate the allegations.

“The decision to temporarily close the hotel was taken after conducting a meeting with members of the Forkopimda [Regional Leader Communication Forum],” he said on Friday.

Novita Hotel general manager Husairi, meanwhile, said the ornament had been created by one of his staff members earlier this month.

“Our staff prepared the ornaments. We will investigate the matter,” he said. (Abdullah Alawi/Masdar)