Observer Of Criticism Of Discourse On The Use Of Zakat Funds For MBG

JAKARTA - Legal and Development Observer, Hardjuno Wiwoho, sharply criticized the discourse of using zakat funds to finance the Free Nutritioning (MBG) program. This proposal further adds to the list of noise made by the Indonesian Regional Representative Council, as well as evidence of the misunderstanding of the Chairman of the DPD RI in the management of state finances.

"This is not a matter of creative or not ideas, but a matter of taking sides with the principles of state financial governance that are transparent and responsible. Zakat funds have their own rules of use regulated in Islamic law, and diverting them to programs such as MBG has the potential to cause polemics in the community," said Hardjuno in Jakarta, Monday, January 20.

Previously, the Chairman of the DPD RI, Sultan B. Najamuddin, encouraged community involvement in the cost of implementing the MBG program. One example is through funding sourced from zakat collected at zakat institutions.

However, Hardjuno assessed that the proposal to use zakat funds was the origin of the sound (of the rice fields). Therefore, it must be opposed. The reason is, the spirit is not in accordance with Law Number 23 of 2011 concerning Zakat Management.

According to Hardjuno, the discourse on the use of zakat funds further shows that the leadership of the DPD is not sensitive to the situation and conditions of the new state and government which are managing many things according to track. Therefore, Hardjuno hopes that the proposal related to zakat funds will not continue.

"Zakat is a function for the benefit of the people, where the qualification of the recipients has been regulated, just function it for it. It is sufficient to supervise its implementation. Do not use it for things outside the provisions that have been regulated and standardized," he added.

Hardjuno reminded the DPD RI to focus more on policies that comply with the principles of justice and accountability.

"We cannot continue to burden the public with immature ideas and do not comply with the principles of financial governance. The DPD RI should improve its budget policy first before proposing things like this," he explained.

Furthermore, Hardjuno assessed that the DPD RI was actually ignorant of budget management. This can be seen from the decision to increase the number of recesses in the range from October to December 2024, where it should have been once, the same as the recess in the DPR, to twice.

Previously, we had seen how the DPD increased their number of recesses exceeded the number of DPR RI recesses. This clearly burdens the state budget of billions of rupiah. Now they are proposing a policy that actually creates new problems by using zakat funds for MBG," said Hardjuno.

Hardjuno emphasized that the DPD's move to increase recess is a concrete example of behavior that does not comply with the principles of state financial management. He said that this behavior clearly violates the MD3 Law, where the DPD RI recess must follow the DPR RI recess schedule.

In addition to the MD3 Law, it also has the potential to violate Law Number 1/2004 concerning State Treasury and Law Number 28/1999 concerning State Implementation which is Clean and Free from KKN. According to him, regarding the potential violation of the law, law enforcement officials should come down to investigate.

"In addition to law enforcement officials, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) can also conduct audits for certain purposes, which are more in-depth, given the consequences of using rupiah in state budget funds, in the midst of fiscal savings requested by President Prabowo to all levels of the ministry of institutions," he explained.