Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Herdiansyah Hamzah, a lecturer in Constitutional Law at Mulawarman University, criticized the government's plan to build a 40-story office building for the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), mass organizations, and Islamic institutions. He believes the idea of uniting various Islamic organizations in one building is an attempt to co-opt.
He believes there is no urgency for President Prabowo Subianto to build the tens-story building, other than to further the interests and legitimacy of the ruling group. "These mass organizations are becoming a rubber stamp for the political decisions of the ruling class," he said when contacted on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Herdiansyah said the head of state's attempt to co-opt Islamic organizations through the construction of this office is a continuation of the granting of mining concessions to religious organizations. He believes this policy discourse is not based on national interests or the people's interests.
"The plan to build an office for an Islamic organization shows that the government lacks a sense of crisis," said Castro, as he is known.
The idea of building a 40-story office, he said, contradicts the current situation in the country. The Presidium of the Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom highlighted the still-worrying state of national education. For example, issues regarding the welfare of honorary teachers, the use of the education budget for free nutritious meals, and cases of elementary school students committing suicide due to economic problems.
"How is it possible that in a situation like this, the government is discussing building a 40-story building? I think this is a crazy idea; the authorities lack empathy, even to discern what (should) be a priority," he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto planned to build a 40-story building with an area of 4,000 square meters for the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), several institutions, and Islamic community organizations. The Head of State provided the land in front of the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta.
"It's not just luxury hotels and malls. Buildings are also needed for Islamic institutions," said Prabowo at the inauguration of the 2025-2030 MUI board at the Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, Saturday, February 7, 2026.
The construction was requested by Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar several months ago. Nasaruddin, he said, noticed the unclear location of the MUI building. The MUI headquarters is known to be located at Jalan Proklamasi No. 51, Pegangsaan, Menteng, Central Jakarta.
On a separate occasion, MUI Head of Disaster Management, Nusron Wahid, stated that President Prabowo Subianto had prepared land for the construction of the MUI office and several Islamic institutions in the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout area, Central Jakarta. The land formerly housed the British Embassy.
"It used to be the British Embassy building. It's next to Jalan Thamrin, next to the Grand Hyatt Hotel," said the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning at the Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta, Saturday, February 7, 2026.
The Golkar politician said the office is planned to be 40 stories high. In addition to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the building will be used as offices for the National Zakat Collection Agency (BAZNAS), the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI), the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BAHMA), and other Islamic religious institutions or organizations. "So they are no longer burdened with monthly overhead and can focus on empowering the community," he said.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2086230/prabowos-mui-building-plan-seen-as-political-co-optatio