Mahfud MD Affirms Al Zaytun Case To Be Completed As Soon As Possible

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that the legal case that dragged Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School would be completed so that it would no longer drag on.

Mahfud also emphasized that the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School would not be closed or subject to sanctions, even though its leader, Panji Gumilang, is currently the target of a police investigation.

"So, Al Zaytun can no longer drag on until 20 years like now," said Mahfud MD as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 11.

Mahfud said that often cases involving Al Zaytun appeared in the public spotlight, then they were dim.

Every time it appears, then it disappears again. Want the election to appear again. Now, finish it! With a note, Al Zaytun as the boarding school will not be dissolved," said Mahfud MD.

The government considers Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School as a good educational institution.

"The government admits that schools are good for their products so we will build, adjust the curriculum, will clean if there is dirt in their implementation. Still, Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School and all schools and their pesantres will not be subject to any sanctions, will continue to run," said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

Mahfud continued that the government plans to attract the management of Islamic Boarding Schools to be under the auspices of the Ministry of Religion.

However, regarding the legal case led by Ponpes, Mahfud emphasized that it would be resolved.

"Panji Gumilang, who is a figure at the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School, will be resolved so that it does not always become an issue of every political event," said Mahfud.

Mahfud menyampaikan dugaan Panji Gumilang terlibat dalam tindak pidana pencucian uang (TPPU) telah dilaporkan ke ke kepolisian.

"We have submitted a new report to the National Police, namely about the crime of money laundering. We have frozen 145 accounts of 367 accounts that are suspected to have links to Pondok, or Al Zaytun activities, Panji Gumilang activities," said Mahfud MD.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs explained several crimes allegedly committed by Panji Gumilang, including embezzlement of funds, fraud, violations of the rules for managing foundation funds, and misuse of BOS funds (school operational assistance).

"It's all put in the context of money laundering. Money laundering with embezzlement, money laundering with fraud, laundering because of the Foundation Law, laundering because of the use of BOS funds, and so on. We have reported it to Bareskrim (Polri)," said Mahfud.