Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Tuesday criticized the prohibition of books on communism and the raids against various left-wing-related activities carried out in a number of regions across the country.

Indonesia, he said, should be concerned about extreme right-ideology and its aim to change the Pancasila ideology.

"Don't you think that right-wing extremism is dangerous too? People who scream to change Pancasila ideology should be arrested," Ahok said at the City Hall on Tuesday.

He expressed concerns regarding the use of race and religion by those trying to discredit him. “By raising such sentiment, those people have tried to change the country's ideology,” he said.

In Yogyakarta and Surabaya, people are reported to have carried out raids looking for books on communism. Indonesia's national library also supports the prohibition of books with communism content, as reported by tempo.co on Monday.

Security officers do need to up hold the law if there are people who forcefully spread communist ideology through propaganda intended to change Pancasila, he agreed.

However, if they just read such a book without trying to change the Pancasila ideology… as a democratic country, Indonesia should not prohibit the distribution of "left-books," he added. (bbn)