Minister of Investment/Head of Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia says the government’s decision to grant mining business permit for religious organizations is in return to their past services during and after the country’s struggle for independence.
He refers to the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah Muslim organizations, the parent organizations of Protestant Church and Catholic Church, Budha and Hindu organizations.
“In our view and upon the direction of President Joko Widodo, the contribution of these figures and organizations cannot be denied. It is them who liberated this nation,” Bahlil said on June 7, 2024.
After gaining independence, Indonesia was attacked by the Dutch military in 1948. It was the Islamic scholars of NU and Muhammadiyah, who issued fatwa of jihad against the Dutch’s military offensive.
In the current period, religious organizations have central roles in solving dynamic problems and conflict at the national and regional levels.
“As an example, leaders of NU, Muhammadiyah and Protestant and Catholic churches, Buddhism and Hinduism had leading roles in solving the sectarian and religious conflicts in Ambon and Poso in the late 90’s,” Bahlil cited.
“As for my education background in Papua is concerned, my junior high school was run by a Christian education foundation, my senior high school was run by an Islamic education foundation. Their contribution to the development of human resources is very extraordinary in Maluku, in Sulawesi, in Papua. In these areas, Muhammadiyah and NU are quite large,” he said.
Lastly, Bahlil said, Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution stipulates that the land and waters and the natural wealth contained in Indonesia shall be controlled by the state and be utilized for the optimal welfare of the people.
Based on the consideration, the President is of the opinion that mining permits should not only be granted to large companies and investors as these religious organizations should play roles in Indonesian economy, not only as objects but also as subjects.
“These religious organizations have the rights [to mining permits]. Indeed, during the independent struggle and at times of national disasters, it was not the investors, nor the entrepreneurs who took care of our people. These religious organizations did,” Bahlil said.
President Joko Widodo signed on May 30, 2024, Government Regulation No. 25/2024 which is a revision to Government Regulation No. 96/2021 on the Implementation of Mineral and Coal Mining Activities. This regulation allows the granting of mining permits to mass and religious organizations.
“One article shall be inserted in between of Article 83 and Article 84, namely Article 83A on Prioritized Special Mining Business License Area,” read the stipulation in the the 2024 regulation.
Article 83A of the regulation among others stipulates that in the context of improving the welfare of the community, special mining license areas (WIUPK) may be prioritized for business entities owned by religious mass organizations.
