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