Governor proposes sterilising poor men to cut birth rates
JAKARTA – A proposal by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to make vasectomy a condition for social aid to poor men has drawn widespread criticism from Indonesians.
The measure, proposed on April 29, aims to control birth rates among impoverished families as a long-term strategy to reduce extreme poverty in the region.
"If someone cannot afford pregnancy and their child's education, it's better not to rush into parenthood,' he was reported as saying by local media.
However, his statement ignited heated debates involving religious leaders, community figures, academics, human rights organisations and ordinary citizens, who deemed the proposal excessive, inhumane and a violation of basic rights.
A vasectomy is a permanent male contraceptive method involving a minor surgical procedure to cut and seal the tubes carrying sperm from the testes.
This procedure prevents sperm from mixing with semen, effectively preventing pregnancy. While it does not impair male sexual function, it is typically irreversible.
Dedi's proposal offers men who agree to undergo a vasectomy an incentive of IDR 500,000 (RM 130).
Even more controversially, other aid programmes, such as food subsidies, healthcare, scholarships and housing, would also be tied to the willingness of men to undergo the procedure.
"I want men to take more responsibility in family planning, not just leave it to women,' Dedi asserted.
Indonesia's Social Affairs Minister, Saifullah Yusuf, warned against arbitrarily linking any form of assistance to medical conditions that involve bodily autonomy.
'When it comes to bodily rights and health, every aspect must be carefully considered. This is not a simple matter,' he said.
Meanwhile, Community Empowerment Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar emphasised that such conditions contradict existing regulations.
'No legal provision allows states to impose such conditions on social assistance,' he said.
The West Java branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) declared that vasectomy is forbidden in Islam if performed permanently without urgent medical necessity.
'Permanent sterilisation procedures like vasectomy are not allowed unless in cases of medical emergencies. This is not about money but about Islamic law,' stated its chairman, KH Rahmat Syafei.
The Indonesian Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) condemned the proposal, calling it a violation of individual bodily rights and undue pressure on the poor.
'The human body is an individual's absolute right. Tying aid to medical procedures is a form of coercion,' said its chairperson, Atnike Nova Sigiro.
Amid mounting criticism, Dedi Mulyadi clarified that his proposal was not coercive but rather an incentive-based voluntary programme.
'I'm merely encouraging, not forcing. If they don't want to, there's no compulsion. But we must think about the long-term future of impoverished families,' he explained.
In a public opinion poll conducted by local media, most Indonesians viewed the proposal as inhumane, degrading to the poor and inappropriate for a diverse, multicultural and religious country like Indonesia.
Many social media users also accused Dedi of exploiting the sensitive issue as 'cheap political capital' ahead of the upcoming elections. – AGENCY
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