Following allegations that a Batam-based radio station has been spreading Islamic State (IS) propaganda, the management of the radio station is planning to meet Singaporean officials to explain the radio’s broadcasts.
On Friday, the Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs issued an announcement regarding the arrest of a number of its citizens in connection with IS under the country’s Internal Security Act.
The announcement, which was posted on the ministry’s website, also mentions that one of those arrested, namely Rosli bin Hamza, acknowledged he was first exposed to IS’ radical teachings on the Batam-based radio station Hang FM.
The radio’s station manager Abu Yusuf, alias Romi, said the Singaporean authorities should have crosschecked the information before posting such serious allegations on its website.
“The allegation is character assassination of our radio station. How can we be accused of spreading IS’ teaching while what we convey is clearly against IS’ teachings,” Abu Yusuf told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.
He said the concept of khilafa promoted by his station was clearly against the teachings of IS, because it referred to Quran verse 59 of Surah An-Nissa requiring obedience to Allah, prophets and leaders.
“For Singaporean Muslim listeners, we also say that although their leaders are non-Muslims, they are leaders that they have to follow as long as they do not ban them from worshiping,” Hang FM’s public affairs manager Abu Azizah, alias Naldi, said.
To protest the allegations, Abu Yusuf said representatives of the radio station would come to the Singaporean Consulate General in Batam on Monday to meet with consul Gavin Chay.
“We will come to explain what exactly the radio station is,” Abu Yusuf said.
Hang FM went on air for the first time in 2002 on the frequency of 106.00 FM and operates 24 hours a day.
One of its three founders, namely Zein Alatas, is a former head of Bank Riau’s Batam branch.
Abu Yusuf said the broadcast could be heard in Singapore and Malaysia. Many Singaporean listeners even gave donations to the station as alms. “Our broadcasts preach about good deeds,” Abu Yusuf said.
Abu Yusuf also said that station staff members did not know the two arrested Singaporeans, Rosli Hamzah, 50, and Mohamed Omar Mahadi, 33.
“If it is true that we are spreading IS teaching, why for the last 14 year have only two of them become our followers. This is indeed a baseless and irresponsible accusation,” he said.
Separately, regional information and broadcasting commission (KPID) chairman Azwardi said that based on monitoring the commission had conducted early last month, the Islamic teachings broadcast on Hang FM were opposed to terrorism.
“I think the accusation is wrong,” Azwardi said.
He added that with regard to the accusation the commission had not yet received an official report or request to evaluate the content of the radio stations’ broadcasts.
Similarly, Riau Islands Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Hartono also said that the police had not yet received any official information regarding Hang FM’s involvement with IS sympathizers in Singapore.
“No report has been filed to us on that,” Hartono said.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
