Should MUI be disbanded? (Chaerul Mundzir)

After the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has decided to prohibit BPJS, the wishes of several people in Indonesia want to disband MUI from Indonesian’s country. The willingness of some people in Indonesia based on their ignorance of the reasons why MUI prohibited BPJS. Furthermore this issue was exaggerated by the media in our country. So there are a lot of people in Indonesia more convinced with this decision. Thus, should MUI be disbanded? Then, after the decision, is the live of the people in Indonesia going well? Therefore it is necessary to discuss the consequent of this decision on the lives of people in Indonesia.

After MUI disbanded, there are at least three things happened in the live of Indonesian people. Firstly, there is no longer a fatwa and guidance in order to regulate the religious life in Indonesia. It is based on the role of the MUI that had been intended to control the behavior of religious communities. Indirectly, we can say 80% of our lives are led by the religion. So, if this happen there are highly possibilities the potential of chaos in our country. 

Secondly, there will be no institution that has a power to control the government's policy. As far as we know most of our life is regulated by the religion. Because it could be possible the government will make a policy without the consideration of the religion. Then, if it happens,       it will be so many policies made by the government intend to accommodate the interests of several parties. Of course this does not guarantee our lives that would be much better than before.

Lastly, MUI plays a vital role to guide, nurture and protect in the muslim country. People tend to easily judge the existence of MUI when MUI issued fatwa either haram or halal. In fact, fatwa is a decision or formal advice taken by an institution or individual who acknowledged his authority, given by a Ulama. Wheather people want to accept it or not dependance on goverment’s percepective.

To sum up, the wishes to disband MUI should be with a good consideration. As it discussed above, the role of MUI is very important for our social life in Indonesia. I believe without MUI, it will be very difficult for us to control our social life without the help of our scholars to understand the religious rules.