Raising the NTCR price

Raising the NTCR price

From Republika

Recent reports revealed that the former head of the Regency
Religious Office in Purbalingga, Central Java, was taken to court
for allegedly increasing the marriage, repudiation, divorce and
reconciliation (NTCR) price from Rp 10,000 to Rp 35,000. This is
indeed extraordinary. Why didn't the public complain about it? It
was a corrupt practice, and undermined the image of the office.
If such an act was linked to Islam, a religion whose values
should be upheld, I am ashamed. And as a Moslem how can I save
face?

The same also happened in Surakarta, Central Java. The process
involves registering the names of the couple, collecting
documents from the village administration and medical
examinations at the Public Health Center. For all of this, one
has to pay Rp 10,000, according to the Ministry of Religious
Affairs. But in practice it has been raised to Rp 95,000,
sometimes more. Ironically, all payments are without a receipt.

According to the District Religious Office, the money is used
to compensate the operational cost of the office such as paying
the night guard, the telephone, electricity and water bills, and
building repairs.

But should office expenditure be borne by would-be married
couples? What if the couple can not afford it? The official said
they should declare themselves incapable of paying the fee. What
an embarrassing situation!

People have to suffer from this malpractice.

A. BASIT ADNAN

Sala, Central Java