Lombok villagers get cash payments for nothing<\/p>\n
Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram<\/p>\n
Villagers in West Nusa Tenggara have been receiving assurances
\nfrom an Islamic foundation that it will provide them with
\nindividual payouts of Rp 400,000 per month without expecting
\nanything in return.<\/p>\n
People at Darek village in Praya Barat Daya, Central Lombok,
\nare busy thinking about what to spend the money on once they
\nbegin receiving the monthly allowances, which will last for at
\nleast five years, beginning this April.<\/p>\n
The pledges have come from the Foundation for Islamic Ahli
\nSunnah Wal Jamaah Mission (Yamisa), whose central headquarters is
\nbased in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Nur, chairman of Yamisa's Mataram branch, said that
\nthe money is from a fund comprised of the inheritances of the
\nIndonesia's past monarchs: Sriwijaya, Blambangan, Majapahit,
\nMataram, Bali, Kediri, and Padjajaran.<\/p>\n
He claimed that the wealth, seized by past colonial forces,
\nhas been under direct control of his foundation, and that it
\nwould soon be distributed to Indonesian people.<\/p>\n
Part of the money, he added, also came from accounts in Swiss
\nbanks that had been saved by Indonesia's first president, the
\nlate Sukarno.<\/p>\n
Some Rp 60 trillion of the funds, currently deposited in the
\nBNI, BCA and BII banks, have been allocated for the people of
\nLombok, Nur added.<\/p>\n
\"Yamisa will distribute fairly to all people, except for high-
\nranking civil servants, and police or military officers.\"<\/p>\n
Under the plan, regency administrators are also supposed to
\nget a share, with the amount of money adjusted to a ratio based
\non the size of the population, and the size of regions.<\/p>\n
For Lombok's government, the share will be Rp 2.5 billion per
\nthree months.<\/p>\n
\"We are not selling promises or dreams -- this money belongs
\nto the Indonesian people, and it will be distributed to all, free
\nof any personal agenda,\" YAMISA top chairman Abdurahman said
\nduring a ceremony on Saturday for the installation of hundreds of
\nhis foundation members in Lombok.<\/p>\n
At least 12 branch offices, including one in the West Nusa
\nTenggara capital of Mataram, have been established across the
\nisland, with a total of 300 executives and members.<\/p>\n
Such promises did not interest local administrations. Mataram
\nMayor Mohammad Ruslan, for one, has even banned the foundation
\nfrom operating within his territory.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest villagers not be so swiftly lulled by these
\npromises,\" he said.<\/p>\n
It remains unclear whether the ban will be effective or not.<\/p>\n
Lalu Junaidi, head of the city's Information and
\nCommunications Bureau, told The Jakarta Post that the ban was
\nimposed due to Yamisa's failure to coordinate with government at
\nthe local level.<\/p>\n
\"People already under economic pressure will quickly believe
\nin the promises ... but if they are not fulfilled, they could
\nstart rioting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nur admitted that Yamisa does not need to cooperate with local
\ngovernments or legislative councils in the distribution of the
\nfunds, as it is the policy of the foundation's central
\nheadquarters in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He argued that it is sufficient that only President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, along
\nwith military and police commanders, know about the existence of
\nthe foundation.<\/p>\n
Ironically, despite claiming to control the hidden treasure,
\nYamisa requires candidates to pay Rp 250,000 each to serve as
\nexecutives. In a return, they will respectively get Rp 16 million
\nfor their monthly salary.<\/p>\n
For members, the foundation charges a Rp 15,000 enrollment fee
\nin order to receive Rp 5 million each every month.<\/p>\n
\"Heads of Yamisa branches will be paid Rp 500 million per
\nmonth,\" Nur said.<\/p>\n
Many local officials and villagers said they do not want to be
\ncheated by such strange promises, and called on authorities to
\ntake stern actions against Yamisa leaders should their claims
\nfound to be fraudulent.<\/p>\n
\"If it turns out to be only lies, the police must move to
\narrest them,\" Lalu Rusmadi, one villager from Darek, told the
\nPost.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lombok-villagers-get-cash-payments-for-nothing-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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