PBNU Seeks Finance Ministry Guidance on Mining Cooperative

The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) has sought guidance from Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on the establishment of the Koperasi Produsen Bangkit Usaha Mandiri Nusantara (KPBUMN), a cooperative formed to manage mining concessions allocated to religious organisations. The request was made during an audience at the PBNU Central Office in Jakarta on Wednesday. PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, known as Gus Yahya, stated that the guidance is necessary to ensure all activities comply with state financial regulations. ‘We hope for guidance from the Ministry of Finance, because many things must follow the state financial regime. We need this direction so we do not make mistakes,’ he said. Gus Yahya added that while concrete projects would involve cooperation with other ministries, building the overall structure, particularly regarding finance and funding, requires the ministry’s direction. He also expressed PBNU’s openness to collaborate on other government programmes, citing a recent agreement with the Ministry of Health to implement free health check-ups and water and sanitation programmes in Islamic boarding schools. In response, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the ministry is prepared to deploy institutions such as the Government Investment Centre (PIP) and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) to provide credit facilities with lighter terms than the market. ‘I will see if it is possible to cooperate with the NU cooperative, and if so, we will pursue it,’ Purbaya said.