TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chairman of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama or NU, Said Aqil Siradj, demanded Finance Minister Sri Mulyani fulfill her promise to provide cheap credit worth Rp1.5 trillion. The vow, Said Aqil added, was noted in an MoU between NU and Finance Ministry.

"We once signed an MoU with Minister Sri Mulyani [who at that time, pledged] she will give cheap credit of Rp1.5 trillion. Up to this day, not even one percent of it has been given yet. We say this to let you know how is the government presently," as Said Aqil said in circulated video footage of his speech, Thursday, December 26.

Said Aqil initially talked of economic inequality. According to him, his organization faced difficulties in running programs related to the welfare of the community considering the government did not provide them assistance.

During his speech, the cleric also touched on that the majority of natural resources in the archipelago were controlled by only a small group of people, large companies.

"Where are the poor people? They are living on the side of wealth. They live next to natural wealth but they are poor. They live on the side of coal mining, but that belongs to Jakarta people. The locals do not earn benefit from the mine next to them,” Said Aqil remarked.

The NU chairman also mentioned the government’s projects that were often monopolized by only a handful of people. He opined this proved the existence of economic intolerance.

"This is not about religious tolerance, we already understand that, but economic tolerance, equality. Do not let only some people who can enjoy the wealth,” Said Aqil Siradj remarked.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI