Fachrul admits that there is a striking difference between him and the president and vice president regarding the FPI issue. He was even summoned twice by President Jokowi and once by Vice President Maruf Amin to specifically discuss it. "I don't associate with the Islamic Defenders Front, I have never met Habib Rizieq except once, when I attended my child's wedding and he was among hundreds of guests," said Fachrul Razi quoted in Eddy Wijaya's podcast 'EdShareOn', Sunday, November 3, 2023.

"Before leaving, I told my wife, 'Dear, there is a limited cabinet meeting with a really important topic. The dissolution of FPI. Do you have any suggestions, dear?' I said to my wife," said Fachrul Razi. "My wife said, 'Honey, if you insist on not dissolving FPI, but only defending or nurturing it, you will definitely be 100% reshuffled. But in my opinion, that's the best choice. If not, you will be ashamed in front of the Muslim community. Ashamed in front of the people of Aceh. It's enough to support and develop a large Islamic organization, why should it be dissolved,'" he continued.

"Bahkan, katanya, dalam rapat kabinet dia adalah satu-satunya menteri yang menolak untuk membubarkan FPI. Dia ingin FPI dibina saja."
"I'm sorry, but as a minister, anyone close to the President can become a minister. But in the military, serving for 32-35 years doesn't necessarily guarantee becoming a four-star general. So, in my opinion, there is no need to dissolve it, just build it. That's what I conveyed. During the meeting, all ministers and heads of agencies did not say anything else except for dissolution, only I conveyed that," said Fachrul Razi.

Ari wonders why the issue of the dismissal of Fachrul and others arises in a political year. He questions the motives behind these issues being brought up again. "I don't know what underlies why the issue of replacing Mr. Fachrur Razi as Minister of Religion and other issues/cases are only raised now, in the midst of the political contestation process during the election. In the words of the President: why is it being stirred up? And for what purpose is it being stirred up?" he said.

Wibowo asserts that the dismissal of Fachrul Razi is not related to the appointment of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas. According to him, the replacement of the cabinet is entirely the prerogative of the president. "As far as I know, the message conveyed by the President during the inauguration of Gus Yaqut is to accelerate bureaucratic reform and strengthen the brotherhood of all elements of the nation," he said. As it is known, the government disbanded the FPI on December 30, 2020, through the Joint Decree (SKB) on the Prohibition of Activities, the Use of Symbols and Attributes, and the Cessation of FPI Activities.