Bawaslu Asks MUI to Increase Dissemination of Fatwa on Money Politics Is Haram

DOC. ANTARA

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja hopes that the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) will increase the dissemination of fatwas declaring that the use of money politics is illegal.

"The fatwa already exists. It's just that this fatwa has not been disseminated in lectures or sermons," said Bagja, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, June 21.

According to Bagja, the dissemination of the fatwa to the public, especially Muslims in the country is one of the efforts to reduce the potential use of money politics in the midst of the 2024 General Election.

Because of this, Bagja also said that his party would immediately coordinate with the MUI to increase socialization regarding the fatwa.

Responding to this hope, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa Affairs, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, said that his party would re-socialize the fatwa on illicit money politics to Muslims in Indonesia.

He also conveyed that the dissemination of the fatwa was a manifestation of the responsibility of the clergy in supporting the presence of quality democracy in the country.

"The fatwa was stipulated as a manifestation of the clergy's social responsibility in creating quality democracy," Niam said when confirmed.

 

The fatwa regarding money politics was stipulated based on the VI National Conference of the Indonesian Ulema Council which took place on 23-27 Rabi'ul Akhir 1421 Hijriah or 25-29 July 2000 with discussions on bribery (risywah), corruption (ghulul), and gifts to officials.

In that deliberation, the Indonesian Ulema Council stated that bribes, facilitation payments, money politics, and so on could be categorized as risywah if the aim is to pass something wrong or nullify a right action. MUI then agreed that it is illegal to give riywah and receive it.