Visit MUI Office, PPATK Make Sure There Is No Blocking Of Cholil Nafis Account

Deputy for Reports and Supervision of Compliance with PPATK Fithriadi Muslim (right) during a meeting with MUI (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) confirmed that it did not block bank accounts from the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Da'wah and Ukhuwah KH Cholil Nafis.

This was conveyed by the Deputy for Reports and Supervision of Compliance with PPATK Fithriadi Muslim after a meeting with the Secretary General of MUI Buya Amirsyah Tambunan and Deputy Secretary General for Da'wah and Ukhuwah MUI KH Arif Fahruddin at the Central MUI office, Jakarta, Monday, August 11.

"Today we deliberately came to explain that we have checked the database for temporary suspension of transactions or blocking PPATK, so far there has been no blocking on behalf of KH Cholil Nafis or his foundation," he said.

Fithriadi said there was a possibility that the bank account in the name of Kiai Cholil had been inactive for six months. However, said Fithriadi, this was not included in the data submitted by banks to PPATK.

"Most likely there was an account related to Kiai Cholil Nafis not being active in six months, but that's not in the data submitted to PPATK by banks. The submission of data to PPATK was long before, so we didn't block it," he said.

He ensured that the blocking was carried out by banks, in this case Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI). The reason, said Fithriadi, is that blocking accounts that have been inactive for a certain period is natural for banks to do.

"And there is an act of blocking or asking for an explanation from the bank to the customer first, that is a normal mechanism carried out by banks to ensure that the account is currently active again with people or clear owners," explained Fithriadi.

Furthermore, said Fithriadi, his party also apologized for the uproar over the block of the booster account that has occurred recently. Fithriadi admitted that his party did not conduct socialization to the public.

"We also apologized because maybe there was a lack of socialization of explanations to the public, including at MUI regarding the blocking actions we had taken," he explained.

Meanwhile, based on the direction of the Head of PPATK, he continued, his party ensured that there was no longer any blocking of the current bangmant account.

"And we have also directed the bank to immediately open an account that was blocked at the request of PPATK," he explained.

Meanwhile, MUI Secretary General Buya Amirsyah Tambunan expressed his appreciation to PPATK for immediately clarifying the blocking of the account of the MUI leadership.

Buya ensured that his party would immediately clarify the news.

"Hopefully we will immediately discuss this tabayun or clarification, both from the PPATK, MUI and KH Cholil Nafis, so that the problem of blocking (accounts) is clear," he said.

"Our job in the future is how the people will prosper, so that they don't have trouble," he concluded.

Previously, bank accounts from the Chairman of the MUI for Da'wah and Ukhuwah KH Cholil Nafis were also affected by the blocking from PPATK. The money in the account was used for the needs of the foundation.

The man who is familiarly called Kiai Cholil said that his foundation's account contained a balance of around Rp. 300 million and was blocked by PPATK. According to him, the policy applied was not wise.

"A little, really, not much, at least Rp. 200-300 million to protect the foundation. However, after I tried to transfer yesterday, it turned out to be blocked. Now, this policy is not wise," he said as quoted from the official MUI website, Monday, August 11.

Kiai Cholil asked the government to think about it first before making a policy. After going through the trial, then the policy can be implemented nationally.

"Besides PPATK, it can block all accounts, it's a human right. In my opinion, there needs to be action from the President (on) policies that make noise," he said.