Idea Of Making A KUA A Place To Marry All Religions: Out Of The Box, But Not Important

Prospective brides Prepare to hold a marriage contract at the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) Pinang District, Tangerang City, Banten, Friday (1/2/2024). (Between/Sulthony Hasanuddin/Spt)

The Ministry of Religion's (Kemenag) plan to turn the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) into a wedding place for all religious adherents has received mixed responses. This idea was originally conveyed by the Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas who wanted KUA to become a center of religious services, including the marriage registration place of all religions.

"We have agreed from the start that we will use this KUA as the center of religious services for all religions. KUA can be used for the wedding place of all religions," Yaqut Cholil explained at the Working Meeting of the Directorate General of Community Guidance (Bimas) Islam on Friday, February 23.

The purpose of the emergence of the idea of KUA accepting the marriage of all religions is so that the recording of marriage and divorce data can be more well integrated, both Islamic and non-Islamic.

So far, marriage records and divorces of Muslim communities have been carried out at the KUA, while those outside of Islam have registered their marriages at the Population and Civil Registration Service (Dukcapil).

But the idea expressed by Yaqut Cholil certainly reaps mixed reactions. From those who agree to accept to those who refuse, have their respective reasons.

The Ministry of Religion's plan to place the KUA for marriage of all religions on the one hand is considered a breakthrough, after all this time recording separate Islamic and non-Islamic marriages. UIN Professor Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Ahmad Tholabi Kharlie assessed the Ministry of Religion's plan as a breakthrough.

"This is the idea of the box but it is very rational because the Ministry of Religion is actually a ministry for all religions. From an idea perspective, it should be supported by various parties," said Tholabi in his statement in Jakarta, Monday (4/3).

However, he also emphasized that there are changes in regulations that are very likely to require energy that is not light. There are several regulations relating to marriage, such as Law Number 32 of 1954 concerning Stipulation of Law Number 22 of 1946 concerning Marriage, Legal, and Referral Registration.

Then Law Number 23 of 2006 concerning Population Administration, PP Number 9 of 1975 concerning Implementation of Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

In addition, there is also the Regulation of the Minister of Religion Number 20 of 2019 concerning Marriage Registration, and PMA Number 34 of 2016 concerning KUA Organizations and Work Procedures.

In this section, Tholabi reminded that it will have an impact on relations with other ministries and institutions such as in terms of coordination and harmonization, both in terms of regulations and the transfer of workloads between agencies.

"So it is not just a matter of regulation, but must make an equalization of perceptions between ministries and technical implementers in the field," said Tholabi.

Public Policy Observer Trubus Rahadiansyah considers the discourse of the Minister of Religion Yaqut to make the KUA a place for marriage and marriage registration of all religions has no urgency. Because so far, Trubus emphasized that there was no significant problem with the separation of marriage registration, namely at the KUA for Islam and Dukcapil for non-Islam.

"First, this discourse has no urgency, so far it has been going well, the KUA is for Muslims and non-Muslims in Dukcapil. Why should it be disturbed again?" Trubus told VOI.

"For Christians, in marriage there are two things, namely rituals and administration. The rituals in the church and the administration in Dukcapil, so far there have been no problems," he added.

Trubus instead asked KUA not to add to the burden with the idea of becoming a wedding venue and recording marriages for all religions. According to Trubus, KUA itself has a lot of homework to do.

"In my opinion, there are many KUA problems myself, one of which is about the shortage of penghulu, the infrastructure that is lacking, as well as inadequate human resources," said Trubus.

Apart from that, it is also about early marriage, which ultimately resulted in stunting. This is due to the lack of collaboration between the KUA and other agencies. The KUA itself has a lot of problems, why should it be added to the problem?" he said.

Trubus is worried that if the Ministry of Religion's idea is forced, there will be a policy overlap because this will conflict with one policy and another.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Ikhsan Abdullah also commented on the idea. He asked that the Ministry of Religion's ideas be studied rather further, because marriage is not just a matter of administration or recording marriages.

Marriage is not just about administration or recording. Marriage is a sacred, private thing. So far, it has been comfortable and peaceful. Don't let there be new problems," he said.