PRIME NEWS POST
The INDONESIAN — Public pressure for law enforcement within the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag RI) continues to intensify.
This time, the Alliance of Students Concerned about Social and Democratic Issues (AMPSI) took to the streets, demanding firm action against alleged practices of bribery, abuse of authority, and position trading that have tarnished the ministry’s reputation.
According to AMPSI, a series of alleged corruption cases surfacing within the ministry has sparked widespread concern among the public.
An institution that should embody moral and spiritual integrity, AMPSI said, now faces allegations of unethical behavior that betray the principles of honesty and justice a moral setback for public bureaucracy that must not go unchecked.
In its statement, AMPSI highlighted allegations involving senior officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including claims of gratification linked to official events in East Java, where funds intended for public services were allegedly diverted through collections from regional office heads across the province.
AMPSI also drew attention to suspicions of budget inflation in the IDR 23 billion “Hari Amal Bakti” (Religious Service Day) event held at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), as well as allegations of job trading within the ministry’s Human Resources Bureau, reportedly involving officials and intermediaries in transactions worth billions of rupiah.
The student group asserted that these allegations indicate a systemic pattern of abuse of power within the ministry.
Therefore, AMPSI urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Attorney General’s Office, and the Indonesian National Police to take concrete and transparent action by investigating all related parties both internal figures such as the Inspectorate General of Kemenag RI and external entities connected to the events in question.
Furthermore, AMPSI reminded that acts of gratification constitute serious criminal offenses as stipulated in Article 12B of Law No. 20 of 2001, amending Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes.
Any public official proven to have accepted bribes or gifts related to their position may face imprisonment of 4 to 20 years and fines ranging from IDR 200 million to IDR 1 billion.
The group also noted that position trading violates Law No. 5 of 2014 on the State Civil Apparatus (ASN), which mandates that recruitment and promotion must be based on a merit system emphasizing competence, qualification, and performance, rather than monetary transactions or personal connections.
Through its fifth wave of protest, AMPSI reaffirmed its commitment to overseeing law enforcement efforts objectively and transparently.
According to the alliance, corruption within the Ministry of Religious Affairs not only causes financial losses to the state but also erodes public trust in a government institution that should serve as a moral compass for the nation’s religious life.
AMPSI called on law enforcement authorities to act impartially and ensure that all parties involved are thoroughly investigated and held accountable.
“Cleaning up a religious institution from corruption is not merely a matter of law, but a mission to restore the nation’s moral dignity,” declared an AMPSI representative during the protest.
This demonstration in front of the Ministry of Religious Affairs building marks another in a series of AMPSI’s ongoing protests, reflecting the students’ unwavering stance in advocating for clean and just governance. ()
