The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has strived to hold the VIII\nCongress of Indonesian Muslims (KUII). The event received extensive\nmedia coverage, both domestic and international, including supportive\nreporting and constructive criticism. The MUI felt it necessary to\nprovide clarification regarding an article by Toto Izul Fatah, Executive\nDirector of Citra Komunikasi LSI Denny JA, who had paid attention to the\ncongress. He noted that this large and strategic forum, organised by the\nMUI, involved 87 Islamic organisations and 500 participants from various\nmass organisations across Indonesia, under the theme: \u2018United Ummah,\nSovereign Nation, Strong State.\u2019<\/p>\n
However, MUI refuted Toto Izul Fatah\u2019s view questioning whether the\ncongress discussed environmental issues. He asked: first, what is the\nposition of nature and the environment in the major discourse of the\nMuslim community? Second, can a nation be called sovereign if its\nforests continue to shrink, rivers are polluted, air quality worsens,\nseas are damaged, water sources disappear, and the people increasingly\nbecome victims of floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires, and\nextreme weather? Third, can a state be called strong if every year the\ngovernment\u2019s budget, energy, and attention are continuously drained to\nhandle disasters, most of which are caused by human error in managing\nnature?<\/p>\n
According to Amirsyah, the VIII Congress of Indonesian Muslims\ndiscussed not only politics, economy, law, education, food, and\ngeopolitics but also the glorification of the environment. This is part\nof a serious concern for the environmental crisis as highlighted by Toto\nIzul Fatah. MUI has committed to human safety, social justice, food\nsecurity, health, the economy, and even state sovereignty. Amirsyah also\nappreciated the attention various parties gave to the VIII KUII,\nincluding Titok\u2019s criticisms and suggestions on environmental\nissues.<\/p>\n
Firstly, disaster data shows that Indonesia is facing a serious\necological threat. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB)\nrecorded 3,472 disaster events throughout 2024. Secondly, of that\nnumber, 3,449 were hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods,\nextreme weather, landslides, droughts, and forest fires. This means\nalmost all disasters that occurred were related to weather, water,\nclimate, and environmental conditions. BNPB even noted that during the\nyear, an average of about 10 disasters occurred daily, affecting\napproximately 88 percent of Indonesia\u2019s territory. Thirdly, the\nIndonesian Disaster Information data (2025) recorded at least 1,768\nreported events. In December 2025 alone, BNPB recorded 154 floods, 73\nextreme weather events, 15 landslides, and two tidal wave and abrasion\nevents.<\/p>\n
These data have certainly become a serious concern for MUI through\nits LPLH SDA MUI. The Institute for the Glorification of the Environment\nand Natural Resources of the Indonesian Ulema Council is a body under\nthe MUI established following the VIII MUI National Conference in July\n2010. This institute aims to raise awareness among Muslims about the\nimportance of nature conservation and environmental management based on\nIslamic teachings.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mui-reaffirms-commitment-to-environmental-stewardship-amid-criticism-1786524750", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }