"If the public face the practices of illegal levies, do not doubt to report it. We will soon follow up," Director of KUA Guidance and Tranquil Family Zainal Mustamin said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He made the statement in response to reports of alleged extortion at KUA Sunggal in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.
Mustamin said his office has coordinated with the Regional Office of North Sumatra province to follow up on the extortion allegation.
"We are investigating alleged illegal levies at the KUA Sunggal in Deli Serdang. If it is proven, there will be sanctions," he informed.
He added that no tolerance will be shown for indulging in illegal levies imposition and any perpetrators who are proven to have violated the rules will be dealt with firmly.
According to him, the practice is contrary to the program being implemented by the ministry currently for the revitalization of KUAs. The program is seeking to not only build KUAs physically, but also to improve services.
The revitalization is aimed at building KUAs as excellent, credible, and moderate centers for religious services in order to improve the quality of religious people.
"The rates of KUA services was clear. We will not tolerate it," he said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Islamic Guidance at the ministry Kamaruddin Amin said that there are four strategic objectives of the KUA revitalization.
First, improving the quality of religious people. Second, strengthening the role of KUA in managing religious life.
Third, bolstering religious programs and services and finally, increasing the institutional capacity of KUA as a center for religious services.
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Translator: Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Sri Haryati
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