Asked to step down from Trump's Besutan Peace Board, the Palace is ready for dialogue with MUI

JAKARTA - The government will soon open a dialogue with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) regarding the request for Indonesia to withdraw from membership of the Board of Peace (BoP).

"We will later have a dialogue with the MUI," said the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 2.

Prasetyo conveyed that the government respected the aspirations of the MUI and believed that dialogue was an important space to provide explanations about the reasons Indonesia joined the forum.

"Later, we will explain why we decided to join the Board of Peace," said Prasetyo.

He emphasized that Indonesia's participation in the BoP is part of a diplomatic strategy to build communication and convey Indonesia's views at the international level, especially regarding the Palestinian independence struggle.

"That is (joining BoP, ed) part of the way we build dialogue. If we do not join, how do we dialogue to provide input, provide opinions, in order for the Palestinian nation to be recognized for independence," he said.

Regarding the issue of contributions or membership dues in the BoP, Prasetyo emphasized that this is part of Indonesia's commitment as a member of an international forum.

"That is part of the commitment," he said.

President Prabowo officially signed the charter of Indonesia's membership in the BoP, on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026.

Reported from the official MUI website, the request for Indonesia to withdraw from the BoP membership was considered not to be in favor of Palestine.

Deputy Chairman of the MUI KH M Cholil Nafis assessed that Indonesia's participation in the forum initiated by US President Donald Trump was not appropriate, considering that there was an Israeli Prime Minister as a member, while Palestine was not involved.

In addition, MUI also criticized the obligation to pay membership dues for BoP member countries.

MUI also accused BoP as a form of neocolonialism and rejected the concept of "false peace" which is not based on justice, does not recognize Palestine as an occupied nation, and has the potential to perpetuate the Israeli occupation in the guise of peace.