Ministry Of Religion Asks People To Report If There Are Illegal Charges In KUA

Director of KUA and Sakinah Keluarga Kemenag, Zainal Mustam. (ANTARA/HO-Kemenag)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) asked the public to report any illegal levies (extortion) practices at the religious affairs office (KUA). Complaints can be reported through the PUSAKA application. "If there are people who experience it, don't hesitate to report it. We will immediately follow up," said Director of Bina KUA and Sakinah Family, Zainal Mustam, in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, August 2. Zainal's statement was in response to reports of alleged extortion at the Sunggal KUA, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. Zainal said that his party had coordinated with the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of North Sumatra Province to follow up on the alleged extortion. "We are investigating allegations of extortion in the Sunggal KUA which is located in the Deli Serdang area. There are sanctions if proven," he said. He said that he would not tolerate any extortion practices, and would take firm action against any perpetrators who were proven to have violated the rules. According to him, the practice of extortion is contrary to the program being echoed by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, namely the revitalization of the KUA. This program not only builds physical, but service improvements. The revitalization of the KUA in order to realize the KUA as a center of excellent, credible, and moderate religious services in order to improve the quality of religious communities. "The KUA service rate is clear. We will not tolerate it," he said. Meanwhile, the Director General of Islamic Guidance at the Ministry of Religion Kamaruddin Amin said that there are four strategic goals for revitalizing the KUA. First, to improve the quality of religious communities. Second, to strengthen the role of KUA in managing religious life.

Then the third, to strengthen religious programs and services, and fourth, to increase KUA's institutional capacity as a center for religious services.