“During our audience with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin yesterday, we, representing the Aceh ulemas, expressed hope that the special autonomy fund allocated for Aceh would be extended," Ali stated in Banda Aceh on Friday.
The Aceh ulemas deduced that the autonomous province still required financial support from the central government to enhance the quality of life of Aceh residents, he said.
"Aceh still needs the special autonomy scheme, and we hope the fund could be extended to allow us to continue developing Aceh. We are yet to achieve financial self-sufficiency, and our revenue is still limited," the deputy chair stated.
Taking a cue from the central government's recent decision to extend the special autonomy scheme and fund allocation for Papua and West Papua Provinces, Ali expected that the same arrangement would be applied for Aceh.
"Vice President Amin assured us that after the special autonomy scheme for Papua is arranged, the central government would be currently deliberating for the special autonomy in Aceh. We hope the central government would provide the best solution for Aceh ulemas' concern," Ali remarked.
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Apart from suggesting the extension of a special autonomy scheme for Aceh, the ulemas also appealed for Amin's support on the current consolidation of the Islamic financial system in the autonomous province before its full enforcement in 2022.
"We lauded Vice President Amin's prompt response, particularly as it is his expertise. The vice president conveyed to us that we could present our suggestions to enhance the Islamic financial system in Aceh," the deputy chair stated.
The Aceh ulemas also sought the central government's support in enhancing halal product certification for products circulating in Aceh and suggested the central government to block the online multiplayer mobile game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and online gambling sites that have negatively impacted Aceh’s residents, Ali stated.
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Translator: Khalis Surry, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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