TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Yandri Susanto revealed that more than 72 percent of Indonesian Muslims cannot recite Quran in Arabic. He considered this worrying since the majority of the country’s population is Muslim.

“We are aware that 72 percent is an alarming number,” said Yandri at the event regarding the dissemination of the MPR’s four pillars and the alleviation of Quran illiteracy with the Indonesian Institute of Qiroatil Qur’an (LPQQ), in the lobby of the Parliament Building, Central Jakarta on Sunday, March 5, 2023.

According to him, the MPR and LPQQ supported by the government are determined to solve this problem. He emphasized that the life of the nation and state is perpendicular to the value of the first principle of Pancasila; belief in one almighty God.

“How can we practice a good nation and state when we don't even understand the holy book? That's one of the implementations of Pancasila, in my opinion,” said the National Mandate Party or PAN politician.

To eradicate Quran illiteracy, he claimed, special training will be held for teachers. “By using a special method, people can now read Quran very quickly,” he said.

Yandri also alluded to the welfare of Quran teachers. He discussed this issue following the statement of Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan who serves on the Advisory Board of the LPQQ.

An Asnaf zakat scheme will be enforced in order to support teachers’ welfare. “Yes, I’d have a discussion with Baznas. One of the groups who receive zakat is a person who fights in the way of Allah, one of them is the Quran teacher,” the MPR Deputy Speaker explained.

TIKA AYU

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