Indonesian Ulema Congress Issues 11 Recommendations on Economy, LGBTQ+, and Technology

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Congress has concluded, issuing a significant set of 11 strategic recommendations aimed at guiding the nation's leadership. These recommendations, presented as "Tausiyah Amanah Kepemimpinan Umat, Bangsa, dan Negara" (Trustworthy Counsel for the Leadership of the Ummah, Nation, and State), cover a broad spectrum of national priorities.

Central to the congress's agenda is the re-actualization of the Pancasila economy and the Islamic economy as the primary drivers of national development. Proposed concrete steps include establishing Sharia-compliant funds, strengthening cooperatives, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and pesantren (Islamic boarding schools). The recommendations also call for land reform, protection of state assets, technological sovereignty, and bureaucratic reform focused on public welfare.

The congress urged the government to bolster the empowerment of the people's economy through cooperatives, MSMEs, and Islamic economics. It also called for national investment policies to align with Sharia principles and limit oligarchic practices hindering equitable welfare distribution. In education, the MUI stressed the importance of faith, piety, and morals as the core of the national education system, advocating for stronger roles for pesantren, madrasahs, and religious higher education institutions, alongside equitable budget allocation.

Furthermore, the congress highlighted the critical need for mastering science and technology to ensure national sovereignty, encouraging strengthened national research and the integration of science with Islamic education. In a notable stance, the MUI expressed deep concern over the spread of LGBTQ+ behavior, supporting preventive measures based on religious values and national law, and urging swift legislative action on a bill to prevent and address such behaviors. The council also called for strengthening artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty based on religious and Pancasila values to safeguard against disinformation and digital manipulation.

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The congress participants have discussed and deliberated in-depth, critically, and constructively, providing solutions by seeking Allah's pleasure and help, presenting the Trustworthy Counsel for the Leadership of the Ummah, Nation, and State.