Indonesian lawmakers condemn alcohol promotion using Al-Quran memorization

Indonesian lawmakers and political parties have condemned a promotional activity at The Sounds Project music festival in Ancol, Jakarta, which involved using Al-Quran memorization as a gimmick to win alcoholic beverages. The incident, involving the brand Newport, has sparked significant public outcry for allegedly desecrating religious symbols.

Dini Rahmania of the NasDem Party emphasized that while creativity is welcomed, marketing activities must respect religious values and legal norms. She called for concrete evaluations from event organizers and brand owners to prevent similar occurrences. Similarly, Muhammad Kholid, Secretary General of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), urged law enforcement to investigate the matter and demanded that organizers be held accountable for failing to mitigate activities that offend religious sentiments.

In response to the controversy, the PKS has urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to accelerate the discussion of the Alcohol Prohibition Bill (RUU Minol). Although the festival organizers and the booth's master of ceremonies have issued public apologies, officials are calling for more rigorous internal oversight within the creative industry to maintain public ethics and diversity.