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State should stop interfering with citizens' personal matters: Lawmaker
In a speech at the National Health Work Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, Muhadjir suggested that rich people should marry those who came from low-income families, arguing that such marriages would help reduce the national poverty rate.
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Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy waves to journalists on Oct. 23, 2019. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he state should not interfere with its citizens’ personal matters, Golkar Party lawmaker Ace Hasan Syadzily said in response to a controversial statement from Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy.
In a speech at the National Health Work Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, Muhadjir suggested that rich people should marry those who came from low-income families, arguing that such marriages would help reduce the national poverty rate.
Read also: Minister suggests ‘the rich’ should marry ‘the poor’ to reduce Indonesia’s poverty rate
"Choosing one's partner is a personal matter. The nation should not interfere in this matter. Islamic teachings on marrying people from the same class should not be interpreted as a mistranslation," Ace said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
He said the government should be looking for the right strategy to combat economic inequality, such as giving low-income families access to education, health care, providing job opportunities, and conducting training programs.
"Those are the right ways to eradicate poverty," he said. (dpk)
