MUI Urges Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara to Control Debt and Uphold Public Trust

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has congratulated Suahasil Nazara on his inauguration as the new Finance Minister. MUI urged Finance Minister Suahasil to maintain public trust, ensure sound management of the state budget (APBN), and, as much as possible, limit and avoid adding to the country’s debt.

MUI Deputy Chairman K.H M Cholil Nafis, said Suahasil Nazara is no stranger to the Ministry of Finance. According to him, Suahasil’s extensive experience, from serving as Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) to Vice Finance Minister, will be a crucial asset in maintaining national economic stability.

“I congratulate Mr. Suahasil Nazara on his appointment as Finance Minister. I think he is not a newcomer. He spent many years at the Fiscal Policy Agency and then served as Vice Finance Minister until now,” Kiai Cholil Nafis told MUI Digital at the MUI Office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

As quoted by mui.or.id, he also conveyed a message regarding the management of state finances under Suahasil’s leadership. He said public trust is the most fundamental foundation that the government must carefully maintain, particularly in designing and managing the state budget.

“Please maintain public trust, including in managing and safeguarding the state budget. Avoid excessive borrowing. For us, having too much debt is not good,” he stressed. In addition to calling for efforts to curb the country’s debt, Cholil Nafis encouraged Finance Minister Suahasil to reform the government’s state revenue strategy.

Kiai Cholil suggested that the government should not rely continuously on the taxation sector as the primary source of state revenue, but should instead maximize the potential of natural resources and a highly capable human resource base.

Regarding tax policy itself, MUI called for tax collection efforts to focus more on corporations and businesses rather than placing greater burdens on individuals. He also urged the government to carefully prevent double-taxation schemes that could place additional pressure on businesses and citizens.

“Second, make sure that state revenue does not come only from taxes. We need to maximize revenue from natural resources and capable human resources. Perhaps taxes should be targeted more at businesses rather than individuals,” he said.

Cholil further proposed integrating religious and fiscal instruments through a tax-credit scheme for zakat payments. He said such integration could provide a dual incentive for Muslims to fulfil their religious obligations while also making a tangible contribution to state revenue.

“We hope zakat can be treated as a tax credit. That way, people who pay zakat will have both religious and civic motivation,” he said.