Controversial! Reducing Poverty, the Government of Indonesia Wants to Make Rules: 'the Rich Have to Marry the Poor'

News24xx.com - The rise of poverty in Indonesia makes Mr. Muhadjir Effendy, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture have a controversial idea.

He said the rich must marry the poor so poverty could be reduced in this country. He voiced that on February 19. He thinks if poor people marry poor people, there will be more poor households and that is a problem in Indonesia, CNA reported.

Effendy said that five million out of 57.2 million households in Indonesia were poor, which was 9.4 percent.

He added that if you consider near-poor households too, there are 16.8 percent or around 15 million low-income households.

Therefore, Effendy suggested that Minister of Religious Affairs Fachrul Razi issued a fatwa - a religious regulation from Islamic authorities to provide guidance - which ordered the poor to look for rich people to get married, and vice versa.

Read more: Viral Story of an old woman in Indramayu who almost died as a result of being wrapped around and sprayed by a cobra

He also proposed that couples who are economically unstable but still want to get married to register for the pre-marriage certification program launched by President Joko Widodo.

The program will train participants to improve their skills so that they can get jobs and in turn will reduce the level of new poor families in Indonesia, Effendy said.

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Anwar Abbas supported Effendy's proposal. Anwar also said if Effendy's idea symbolizes the spirit of mutual assistance.

"There are many poor families and sometimes there are widows left by their husbands. They must raise their children while earning a living, "he said.

"If there is a rich man who likes it, and he also likes it, then great."

"Poor families will be made rich, and the number of poor people will decrease."

"Poverty will be reduced. Second, if you realize, wealth will not only circulate (among the rich). "

NEWS24XX.COM/CTR