Jokowi Controversy: Early Traces Of Indonesian President Distributing Mining Concession To Religious Organizations

Portrait of mining activities in Indonesia. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - No one doubts the closeness of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and religious organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). This closeness made many NU figures enter the ranks of the Jokowi government cabinet. In fact, the gift of position was not enough. Jokowi then spread a new promise to NU and other religious organizations.

Jokowi plans to distribute mining, plantation, and agriculture (IUP) business permits. Sharing the mining land into polemics. Mining management religious organizations are considered to be able to bring many harm instead of benefits.

Jokowi's appearance in the political map of Indonesia is considered hope. This condition made NU believe that it would show Jokowi's alignment in the political contestation from the 2014 to 2019 presidential elections. Twice supported, twice as well as NU's abundance of sustenance.

Jokowi won and became President of Indonesia for two terms. NU figures who enter the government are piled up, from the commissioner level to the minister. In particular, the sweet relationship between Jokowi and NU continues. Jokowi often attends events held by NU.

Take for example at the 34th NU Congress in Lampung in December 2021. Jokowi not only praised NU's existence as a religious organization that had a noble mission to educate the nation's children. Jokowi tries to promise the younger generation of NU to manage IUP mining land.

Jokowi has his own reasons. Jokowi considers many NU young people to be smart. Many of them also come from major foreign university graduates. Jokowi wants NU young people to take advantage of their competence in managing mines to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Jokowi has tried to prepare various mining concessions, from nickel, coal to copper. The large mass organization was asked to choose. Jokowi also did not only promise NU. He is also open to other religious organizations that want to acquire mining land.

Jokowi and his staff are preparing to provide a way to smooth the IUP management organization. Jokowi's desire to get a positive response from NU officials. They expressed Jokowi's concern for NU's independence must be appreciated. This narrative is considered a way so that NU continues to develop in the future.

"I see that the power in NU now, young people who are smart, students who are smart, many are expelled from big universities from all over the world. I offer these young people a forum, it could be PT or business groups. .

"And the government, I prepare, if ready, I prepare concessions, be it concessions, it's up to you to use them for agricultural land, please. I also prepare mineral and coal concessions, which want to move in nickel businesses, for example, coal businesses, bauxite businesses, copper businesses, please," said Jokowi as quoted on the website.com, December 22, 2021.

Jokowi's desire to distribute mining concessions to religious organizations invites condemnation. Protests arise from everywhere. Many consider that efforts for mining land are a political step. A step that is considered a tool for silencing religious organizations so as not to be critical.

NU and other religious organizations were also criticized. Religious organizations should defend the body and soul. Instead of taking part in damaging the environment through the mining business.

Independence may be pursued. However, not with mines. Mining and religious organizations have nothing to do with it. The criticism of all Indonesian people is not listened to by the government.

The Jokowi government continues to step on the gas to provide red carpets to religious organizations managing mines. Jokowi also realized this through the revision of legal products in 2024. Jokowi revised Government Regulation (PP) Number 96 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Business Activities to Government Regulation Number 25 of 2024 on May 30, 2024.

The regulation regulates that religious organizations can have the opportunity to manage mines. As a result, NU certainly agreed. Later Muhammadiyah and other religious organizations took part in mining management.

This condition makes criticism and criticism continue to come. Many predict that land concessions can make members of religious organizations fight for each other. Even though then the power moved from Jokowi to Prabowo Subianto.

"That this mass organization (NU) that was founded before independence, contributed greatly, greatly. Even the heroes of Islamic organizations are very numerous, there are NU, Muhammadiyah and other mass organizations. We (ormas) are always matters of worship. We have never been able to get ghanimah (war booty) during the era of independence," said the chairman of PBNU from 2010-2021, Said Aqil Siroj as quoted by page temppo.co, July 2, 2024.