Jakarta – Religious figures are calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to revamp the Religious Affairs Ministry and restore it to its original function of encouraging harmony and providing services to religious institutions.
They claim the ministry's image has been tarnished by graft cases and its discriminatory treatment of minority groups and so-called traditional belief holders, but argue its presence is still needed to provide facilities and administrative services to religious institutions and communities.
Nahdlatul Ulama secretary-general Andi Djamaro told The Jakarta Post that even though the ministry was well known for its corruption scandals, especially in relation to the haj, it did not necessarily mean that it had to be liquidated.
"Corruption is not exclusive to the Religious Affairs Ministry. It has also been rife in other state institutions, such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General's Office. So, if we want to liquidate the ministry, we'll have to follow with most state institutions as well," he said.
"What the ministry really needs is management reform. As a government agency, it must also realize its role in providing equal treatment and services to all religious institutions and communities. It must also start encouraging all religious institutions to deal with their own internal affairs without any government interference," he added.
The ministry's image has been damaged by a number of graft cases implicating several ex-ministers and high-echelon government officials.
Law enforcers have revealed a number of graft cases at the ministry in the last seven years. In 2009, the ministry allegedly embezzled Rp 1.27 trillion in haj funds.
Secretary-general of Muhammadiyah's Youth Central Board Izzul Muslimin said that one of the breakthroughs the ministry could achieve was eradicating the mismanagement of haj funds by allocating them to an independent agency.
"The ministry can establish a private agency to organize the annual haj pilgrimage as Malaysia has done for many years," he said.
Syafi'i Anwar, the executive director of the International Center for Islam and Pluralism (ICIP), told the Post the ministry should focus on its service to religious institutions and communities. "The ministry must play the role of mediator in settling sectarian conflicts," he said.
Syafi'i also said that it was essential for ministry officials to understand the nation's Pancasila state ideology that is based on the spirit of pluralism and was formulated and accepted by the founding fathers.
Richard Daulay, the secretary of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) said the ministry should allocate its budget to serve all religious communities proportionally.
"I truly understand that the majority of citizens are Muslims. However, I do think the ministry should allocate more of its budget to minorities," he said. Richard also regretted the state's dominating role in internal affairs, such as recognizing only six official religions.
Rev. Franz Magnis Suseno, a Catholic intellectual and professor, said the government should not intervene deeper into the internal affairs of religious institutions and had no authority to regulate their rituals. (hdt)