Attacked by Negative Comments for Participating in the Ogoh-ogoh Parade, Gibran: He's a Narrow Minded Person

Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, spoke out regarding negative comments directed at him on social media Twitter for holding the ogoh-ogoh festival in Solo. 

The ogoh-ogoh festival or ogoh-ogoh parade was held by the Solo City Government (Pemkot), on Saturday (18/3/2023), for the first time, as a form of tolerance and celebration of Nyepi Day for residents in Solo. 

However, this effort was commented on negatively by a number of netizens. 

They also mentioned Gibran's participation in the ogoh-ogoh parade. 

When met at the Tirtonadi Terminal Convention Hall during the reflection of his two years as chairman, Gibran responded casually to the negative comments. 

"There are more positive comments, we are Solo, a tolerant city with Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. So, it doesn't matter if we celebrated yesterday the ogoh-ogoh festival, Christmas, Chinese New Year," said Gibran, on Tuesday (21/3/2023). 

The eldest son of President Joko Widodo said that the city of Solo was open with various religious celebrations. 

Gibran considered that those who commented negatively during the ogoh-ogoh festival were narrow minded people. 

"We are open minded people. If people like that negative comments are narrow minded people," he said. 

Then, regarding comments that said he was an infidel, Gibran also relaxed. 

He said, there are other comments that are worse. 

"Not really, there are those who swear that they will go to hell too, that's okay. Just let it be," he said.