'Enemy of State': Anies Criticized for Reading Farid Okbah's Book

jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Indonesia Police Monitoring executive director Ferdinand Hutahaean has responded to the viral photo of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan reading a book by suspected terrorist Farid Okbah.

Ferdinand considered the photo an indication of Anies' closeness to radical groups.

"We have openly seen, witnessed, and learned how close Anies Baswedan was with radical groups, one of which was FPI HTI that the government had dissolved," Ferdinand told JPNN.com, Sunday ( 21/11).

He said that the photo of Anies reading Farid Okbah's book was unfortunate.

"This means that Anies Baswedan does not feel that Farid Okbah is a terrorist radical that can destroy the country," he continued.

The former Democratic Party politician viewed Anies as a politician who had the potential to be promoted by radical groups, which might lead to a divided society.

"This republic will be very chaotic because there will be opinion spills, debates, and opinion wars between nationalist groups and groups carrying identity politics," said Ferdinand.

He also said that Anies' close relationship with Farid Okbah needed to be watched out for unless the former minister of education and culture dared to openly reject support from radical groups.