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strong>Aug. 16, Online

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that seven ministries and state institutions might receive more than Rp 20 trillion (US$2.1 billion) each in 2013.

“The seven ministries and institutions are the Defense Ministry with a budget allocation of Rp 77.7 trillion, the Public Works Ministry with Rp 69.1 trillion, the Education and Culture Ministry with Rp 66 trillion, the National Police with Rp 43.4 trillion, the Religious Affairs Ministry with Rp 41.7 trillion, the Transportation Ministry with
Rp 31.4 trillion and the Health Ministry with Rp 31.2 trillion,” Yudhoyono said during his speech on the state financial note and the 2013 state budget draft (RAPBNP) before the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Yudhoyono said that the special allocation on the ministries would help the country to achieve its economic goals in 2013.

Your comments:

The fact that the Religious Affairs Ministry, known to be corrupt, will get Rp 41.7 trillion (US$4.37 billion) in 2013, far more than the Transportation Ministry, (which actually needs the money to improve transportation in this country), is something that truly amazes me as well as greatly disturbs all Indonesians who still possess their sanity, decency and honesty.

Tami Koestomo

A country that spends more on religion than on health needs a serious reality check.

Goroni

Wow, the Religious Affairs Ministry will receive more money than the Transportation and Health Ministry?

Has religion made Indonesia a wealthier place? A cleaner place?

Has religion made the population more educated and tolerant of other cultures?

Indonesia will always remain a step behind countries like Singapore because it doesn’t know how to separate religion from governance, and to put the interests of the country before those of personal religion.

Keegan Edwards

SBY must remember to tell these ministries that the money is not for the ministers’ pockets, but it is to be spent on behalf of the people.

Save the trillions allocated for the Religious Affairs Ministry, which are unproductive and wasteful.

Baz