Tarmizi wants 53% increase in religious affairs budget

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher says he is looking for a 53 percent increase in his department's budget for next year.

Tarmizi told a hearing with the Commission IX of the House of Representatives, yesterday, that he needs a budget of Rp 1.57 trillion ($723 million) to finance some of his department's programs during the 1995/1996 fiscal year, which begins on April 1.

The proposed budget includes Rp 1.42 trillion for recurrent spending and Rp 157 billion on development spending.

Routine spending items include funds for the supervision of religious activities and the development of the religion, he said.

"We believe that the proposed increase is reasonable." Tarmizi told the hearing.

He said a large part of the funds will be allocated for the development of religious education, as it is the priority of the sixth five-year development plan (Repelita VI).

His proposal is yet another attempt by government ministers to gain the support of the House as they compete for scarce government funds. Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat said Tuesday that he needed to increase spending by 24 percent.

The Ministry of Finance is currently drafting the government's spending plans for the 1995/96 fiscal year. President Soeharto traditionally presents the budget draft in the first week of January.

The highest increase in spending for the 1995/96 draft budget of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is in government subsidies for the supervision of religious activities.

Tarmizi is also seeking a four fold increase in the amount of government subsidies for Islamic boarding schools.

The largest allocation in recurrent spending is for employees' payrolls which have reached Rp 966.95 billion, a 15 percent increase from the 1994/95 budget.

Tarmizi also disclosed yesterday that his ministry, which administers Moslem educational institutions, is also evaluating the prospect of introducing a five-day school week.

Administrators of schools, which share the building facilities by using morning and afternoon shifts, said the shorter school week would upset the shift arrangement.

Tarmizi added, however, that the answer to the problem would be to compel the morning schools to start earlier than usual. (02)