Is the Government Really Planning to Manage Mosque Funds? Kemenag Provides Clarification

Recently, information has circulated on social media regarding the government’s plan to establish and manage mosque fund accounts. In response to the issue, the Head of the Public Relations and Communication Bureau (HKP) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Thobib Al Asyhar, emphasised that the information is a hoax. “The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has never issued any policy or plan related to taking over the management of mosque funds,” Thobib stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (21/4/2026). Thobib explained that the memes and videos circulating on social media, which feature a photo of Minister Nasaruddin Umar accompanied by the text “Formation of mosque fund accounts that will later be managed by the government,” constitute disinformation. “The information was deliberately created to stir up trouble. Therefore, we hereby confirm that the Minister has never spoken about Mosque Fund Accounts as framed in the viral content,” Thobib said. He added that the management of mosque funds remains the authority of each mosque’s management. “Mosque funds are managed by the Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) or mosque trustees in accordance with the principles of independence and the trust of the congregation,” he said. According to Thobib, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is instead continuously encouraging professional, transparent, and accountable management of mosques by the DKM or mosque managers, without government intervention in the form of taking control of funds. Thobib advised the public not to easily believe unverified information and to always check through official government channels. “Let us always be wise in receiving information. Ensure the truth of every piece of information only through the official website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the official social media accounts of Kemenag RI,” Thobib stated.