Majalengka, Indonesia – As they awaited iftar during Ramadan, clerics in the Indonesian town of Majalengka attended an unusual briefing on inflation, conducted by the country’s central bank. A central bank official, along with two Muslim clerics, addressed the gathering at the town’s Islamic center as part of Bank Indonesia’s strategy to use religious leaders to discourage excessive consumption during Ramadan, a period that often leads to price surges in a country with a history of high inflation.

Although inflation has been controlled over the past decade due to improved food distribution and supply chain management, the central bank remains committed to reinforcing the importance of price stability. “We hope you, as ulemas (Islamic scholars), will act as mediators to spread awareness that managing inflation is a shared responsibility,” said Agung Budilaksono, a senior central bank official in Majalengka.

"Inflation must be controlled, much like blood pressure—if it rises too high, it harms long-term stability, and if it drops too low, it weakens the economy," he explained to the clerics. Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, typically drives peak demand in Indonesia, where Muslims make up the majority of the 280 million population. Religious leaders play a significant role in shaping public behavior, particularly in smaller towns like Majalengka, located about three hours from Jakarta. "People tend to indulge more during Ramadan, but we should remind them that fasting is meant to teach self-control," said Mohamad Padil, a 53-year-old cleric attending the session.

Previously, Indonesia struggled with high inflation, but by 2024, it had stabilized at 1.57%, close to the lower end of the central bank’s target range. In West Java, the rate stood at 1.64%. The first two months of 2025 saw a further decline, largely due to increased subsidies for electricity prices. Economists expect inflation to remain within the central bank’s target range of 1.5% to 3.5% for the year.

Beyond religious sermons, the central bank has employed other unconventional methods to promote financial discipline, including a podcast on responsible spending and initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen local food production. At the Santi Asromo Islamic boarding school nearby, the central bank supported the construction of a greenhouse where students grow Chinese cabbage and water spinach, as well as a fish farm for an adjacent school.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.