Ministry of Religious Affairs Denies Issuing Policy on Managing Mosque Funds
Jakarta, VIVA – The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has affirmed that the government has never issued any policy or plan regarding the takeover of mosque fund management, contrary to narratives circulating on social media.
“The information spreading on social media about the government’s plan to establish and manage mosque fund accounts is untrue (a hoax). Kemenag has never issued any policy or plan related to taking over the management of mosque funds,” stated the Head of the Public Relations and Communications Bureau (HKP) of Kemenag, Thobib Al Asyhar, when contacted from Jakarta on Wednesday.
Thobib explained that memes and videos circulating on social media, featuring a photo of Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar accompanied by the text “Establishment of mosque fund accounts that will later be managed by the government,” constitute disinformation (a hoax).
“That information was deliberately created to stir up unrest. Therefore, we hereby affirm that the Minister has never spoken about Mosque Fund Accounts as framed in that viral content,” Thobib said.
According to him, the management of mosque funds remains the responsibility of each mosque’s administrators. Mosque funds are managed by the Mosque Prosperity Council (DKM) or mosque trustees in accordance with principles of independence and the trust of the congregation.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, he said, is instead continuously encouraging professional, transparent, and accountable mosque management by the DKM or mosque administrators, without intervention in the form of government control over 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. (Ant)