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ct. 28, p1

With religious minority groups still suffering persecution and systemic corruption plaguing the Religious Affairs Ministry, questions have arisen as to whether the government'€™s decision to raise the ministry'€™s budget by an average of 25 percent annually since 2008 is justified.

A Finance Ministry report says the Religious Affairs Ministry'€™s budget increased from Rp 14.9 trillion (US$1.3 billion) or 5.7 percent of the total state budget in 2008 to 45.4 trillion or 7.3 percent of the total state budget in 2013.

For the 2014 state budget, the ministry will receive Rp 49.6 trillion. In terms of annual growth within the 2008-2013 period, the ministry sat in second place with 25 percent after the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry with 26.1 percent, the report said.

Your comments:

With so much money being thrown by the government at religions, we might have expected Indonesia not to be such a corrupt country.

Jaytee

Until Indonesia can separate religion and the state, pay more attention to supporting education, infrastructure and the environment, it will remain a Third World country.

X Simaging

Education, agriculture and health get the least increase in allocation. That is the kind of emphasis President SBY has given these three most important sectors for a nation that so badly needs better education programs, better agricultural development to reduce imports of sugar and rice, etc. and also better health facilities so that poor people won'€™t get turned away at hospitals because of lack of money.

I am now so disappointed and angry with President SBY with the announcement of this budget. My suspicions of him being out-of-touch with the problems and aspirations of the people are now confirmed!

Malam

It is bad idea, when you start, it will never stop. Maybe, the government is trying to buy them off.

Religion in most cases separates people instead of uniting them, the majority become bullies if they get involved in politics, making politics even worse. Separation is the only answer.

All citizens get equal treatment regardless of what religion they follow.

Benjoli

It should be spent instead on science, mathematics and language training.

Dunder Duck

It is no better than bribery.  Keep the great unwashed happy with religious indoctrination and cheap cigarettes.

Peter Gryffin