"I don`t think MUI needs to issue advices. It should not interfere too far into the government`s affairs," Basri Sono, member of Central Sulawesi`s Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD) said here on Monday.
Basri who is also a religious figure said that what the government had to do was to tighten control the use of subsidized fuels because there were many the haves who use subsidized gasoline premium.
MUI chairman Ma`ruf Amin said recently that it was haram for financially capable people to consume subsidized fuels. They should use non-subsidized fuels instead, he said.
Other member of the DPRD Mustar Labolo said MUI did not need to issue a fatwa (advice) that it was hararm for rich people to consume subsidized fuels.
It was previously reported that the government had tried to use influence of MUI in its campaign to prevent rich people to use subsidized fuel oils.
However, The government last week denied that it had used the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) to pave the way for the implementation of its fuel subsidy policy.
"The ministry of energy and mineral resources has never used, relied on or embedded itself to the MUI to decide a fuel policy." Munawar Fuad, assistant to the minister of energy and mineral resources, said in a written statement.
He said the ministry of energy worked professionally in line with its constitutional mandate and authority.
"The MUI`s stance or decision relating to fuel consumption is MUI`s own authority and the ministry of energy has never intervened in it," he said.
Regarding the meeting between MUI and the ministry of energy recently Munawar said that it happened upon MUI`s initiative which institutionally must be respected.
The ministry of energy is open to dialogs and cooperation with any national element without exception, he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
