BNPT Asks Residents To Be Careful In Fundraising For Palestine

The Main Secretary of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Bangbang Surono after meeting with the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Lalu Gita Ariadi in Mataram, Thursday (19/10/2023). (ANTARA/Nur Imansyah).

MATARAM - The National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) appealed to the public to be more careful in making donations to Palestinian fundraising actions carried out by the general public because it was feared that they would be misused.

"Don't let the Palestinian fundraising, not arrive. Pretending to be for Palestine but then diverted. So be careful of fundraising by the general public because the funds may not get there but are used for other activities," said the Main Secretary of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Bangbang Surono in Mataram as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, October 19.

He advised people who want to set aside their money for Palestine to contact or visit the Palestinian Embassy in Jakarta.

"There it is clear where the Palestinian government is, so it is more measurable where it is distributed. So don't gather but then it's unclear," he said.

Therefore, regarding the large number of fundraising actions, his party asked the Provincial Government (Pemprov) to monitor and supervise these activities.

"This local government supervision must be coordinated so that the funder must be monitored if necessary, asked whether it is connected to the Palestinian government. Do not let it admit to Palestinians, in fact, it is not because many do not arrive," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the NTB Baresbang Poldagri, Ruslan Abdul Gani, explained that fundraising had been regulated in Law No. 9 of 1961 concerning the collection of money and goods. Where in collecting money and goods from the community must have a permit.

"Culture collection must have a permit, if the permit is between the districts in the province, if the permit is inter-provincial from the Minister and according to the law it cannot be deducted at all. If it is not able to distribute it, it will be given to the government," he said.

He explained that from the results of monitoring that fundraising for Palestine was mostly in Mataram, his party did not take action but rather on prevention efforts. However, he did not deny that cases of misuse of fundsraising had occurred in NTB.

"What is anticipated is not to let the raising be used for terrorists. It's another danger, so don't turn it around," he said.