Newly elected head of BNPT visits NU

Jakarta, NU Online
Newly elected Head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General Suhardi Alius Wednesday visited the NU headquarters to discuss the issue of radicalism and terrorism in Indonesia.

Suhardi warmly welcomed by the general chairman of KH Said Aqil Siroj, popularly known as Kang Said and other NU board members said that both terrorism and radicalism were serious threats posed by those willing to undermine the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI)

On that occasion, Kang Said explained that the teachings of Islam propagated by NU were the tolerant and moderate ones, saying that he deplored the radical groups considering themselves as the only true human beings.

Kang said was of the opinion the radical groups having no similar religious teachings as preserved by the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization were Wahabis.

"They tend to consider the NU teachings heretical. They propagate an Islamic state while NU propagates the NKRI," he said.

Kang Said also explained, NU did appreciate local cultures or traditions not contrary to the teachings of Islam and was committed to take efforts in dealing with the local traditions in accordance with the values ​​of Islam.

"If free sex (is permissible), of course NU does forbid it," he said.

Meanwhile Suhardi said that he would crack down on those who are engaged in terrorism and radicalism in addition to taking measures by involving preachers (dai) to disseminate the peace-loving teachings to the people considered to have embraced the radical teachings.

Born in Jakarta on May 10, 1962, Suhardi Alius is an intellectual policeman, whose career has been on the upswing ever since he joined the Police.

Alius had earlier held several posts related to criminal investigations, including as the Jakarta Polices director of general criminal investigations, and as director-in-charge of certain crimes (Bareskrim) at the Police Headquarters.

He also served as the head of the Police Headquarters Public Relations Division, and later the West Java Provincial Police chief.

The Seroja Award was bestowed on Alius for being the best graduate at Lemhannas.

Alius holds a masters degree in law from the Yogyakarta-based University of Gadjah Mada and speaks English and German fluently.

He has also attended police courses abroad - in Germany, Las Vegas in the United States, Lyon in France, Bangkok in Thailand, Perth and Sydney in Australia, Vancouver in Canada, and Cambodia, among others.

The Commissioner General has also authored two books --- "The Future of Indonesian Forests" and "Turn the Police Services from Leadership to Subordination" --- in which he revealed about venturing sometimes into the field in disguise as an ordinary civilian to check and monitor the performance of his staff while they were on duty. (Mukafi Niam/Masdar)