Religious ministry requests more money

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested an additional Rp 350 billion (about US$34.14 million) for its budget this year to help finance programs aimed at improving relations between religious groups.

Ministry secretary-general Faisal Ismail disclosed the proposal during a meeting on Thursday with House of Representatives Commission VIII on religious affairs.

When tension between religious groups broke out recently, the ministry initially estimated it would need an additional Rp 1.56 trillion for the programs, but lowered the amount after considering the limited financial capacity of the government.

The ministry has already been allocated Rp 6.9 trillion from the 2005 state budget. -- Detik.com