Fatwa Haram Buang Sampah ke Laut Dapat Dukungan Penuh Menteri LH

JAKARTA - The government welcomes the positive step of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which stipulates a fatwa that it is haram to throw garbage into rivers, lakes, and seas. This moral-based policy is considered to strengthen efforts to handle the waste crisis, which has relied on technical and regulatory approaches.

The Minister of Environment (LH) and Head of the Environment Control Agency (BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, conveyed his appreciation for the support of ulama in encouraging changes in community behavior.

"Technical and regulatory approaches must be strengthened with moral awareness. The support of ulama is a great energy to encourage changes in people's behavior to be more disciplined in managing waste," said Minister Hanif.

The statement was made during the Clean Action and Tree Planting activity in the Cikeas River, Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java, Sunday, February 15. On this occasion, he highlighted Indonesia's condition which is facing serious pressure due to waste problems, which has an impact on environmental quality, public health, and climate change.

"We can no longer delay. Uncontrolled waste from the mainland will end up in rivers and seas. We must break this chain from the head. Our goal is to turn the emergency into a management system that makes waste a resource," said Minister Hanif.

At the same event, MUI reiterated the fatwa that it is haram to throw garbage into the waters as a form of moral responsibility in maintaining environmental sustainability.

Deputy Secretary General for Economy of MUI, Hazuarli Halim, said the fatwa was born out of concern for the increasingly visible condition of environmental damage.

"This fatwa is a form of religious responsibility in responding to environmental damage that occurs. Throwing garbage into rivers, lakes, and seas is not only violating the rules, but also contradicts the principle of maintaining the public interest," said Hazuarli.

With this support, the Ministry of Environment/BPLH emphasizes the importance of comprehensive waste management, ranging from source reduction, public literacy improvement, to consistent law enforcement to prevent pollution of rivers and seas.

Collaboration between the government, religious figures, business, community, and society is considered the key to breaking the chain of pollution from upstream, while maintaining the sustainability of the water ecosystem in Indonesia.