Most Indonesian Muslims do not want non-Muslims in leadership positions in government, which points to rising political intolerance in the country, a survey showed on Monday (24/09). (Reuters Photo/Darren Whiteside)

Jakarta. Recent remarks of a hardline Muslim cleric on Islamic law and Indonesia's official ideology Pancasila have prompted a Jakarta-based political observer to challenge him to a public debate.

According to Boni Hargens of the University of Indonesia, Rizieq's comments suggest that he has a different vision of the role of Pancasila and the unity of the world's largest Muslim-majority country, which should be clarified in a public debate.

"What should be made clear is whether he wants to fight for Pancasila and the Republic, or seeks to establish a different one," the scholar told reporters on Tuesday (24/01).

On Saturday, Boni sent a written request inviting Rizieq to discuss the issue in public.

"I assume that you [Rizieq] have a different concept of Pancasila, different than the one that has since the beginning been present in the Weltanschauung [worldview] of Indonesia's founding fathers. You want to establish a state based on sharia [Islamic law]," Boni said in the letter.

Rizieq has reportedly defamed first President Sukarno and mocked the decision of Indonesia's secular and religious leaders to drop the so-called Jakarta Charter, which before independence sought to include in Pancasila the obligation for Muslims to follow Islamic law.

Rizieq's remarks prompted Sukarno's daughter, Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, to report him to police. The case is under investigation.

"If it turns out that he wants to have the Republic of Indonesia based on sharia, then just let him be judged by members of the public," Boni said, highlighting the urgency of the public debate to take place.