The Ministry Of Religion's New Rules For Establishing A House Of Worship Do Not Need FKUB Recommendations, This Is MUI's Response

MUI General Chair Anwar Iskandar. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is waiting for a complete explanation from the Ministry of Religion regarding the revision of the rules for establishing houses of worship that no longer require recommendations from the Religious Communication Forum (FKUB). "MUI cannot act because it has not received a complete explanation from the Ministry of Religion. This must be discussed and reviewed first," said MUI General Chair Anwar Iskandar in Jakarta, Thursday, August 8. In the National Conference and National Working Meeting of the Great Indonesia Christian Movement (Gekira) some time ago, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that in the latest regulation, licensing for the construction of houses of worship now only needed to be addressed to the Ministry of Religion. Before there was a recommendation revision, the establishment of a house of worship must follow the Joint Regulation of the Minister of Religion and the Minister of Home Affairs (PBM) Number 9 and 8 of 2006.

Actually, regarding the revision of the rules for the establishment of this house of worship, Yaqut had mentioned during the XVII Indonesian Bethel Church (GBI) Synodical Session in Sentul, Bogor, on August 23, 2023. At that time Yaqut said that in the formulation of the new regulation, the Ministry of Religion proposed to the President that the recommendation for the establishment of a house of worship was sufficient from the Ministry of Religion.

The process of drafting this Presidential Regulation has started in 2021. Currently, the process is already at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. According to Anwar Iskandar, a complete explanation from the Ministry of Religion is needed so that MUI can respond to the elimination of these FKUB requirements.

"It needs to be explained. What, for example, are the benefits and harm if it is revoked. Maybe those who refuse this because they have not received a complete explanation regarding this matter," said Anwar. He also advised that matters that are sensitive and touch directly on community issues like this, can be socialized first so that it does not cause turmoil.