President Jokowi Inaugurates Oesman Al-Khair ‘Floating’ Mosque in North Kayong

President Jokowi and several ministers greet people attending Sail Karimata Strait 2016 on Saturday (15/10)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, in his working visit to North Kayong Regency, West Kalimatan, attended the peak event of Sail Karimata Strait 2016, on Friday (14/10) to Saturday (15/10).

President Jokowi arrived in Sukanda, North Kayong, on Friday afternoon (14/10). In the evening, the President inspected a local fair which was held in the court of Pulau Datok Beach. The inspection was not part of the presidential agenda.

The President’s arrival at the fair was enthusiastically welcomed by the locals who were at the venue. President Jokowi then greeted the people and shook their hands in exchange of their enthusiasm. Several visitors also had opportunities to take pictures with the President. For the record, the fair is a part of series in Sail Karimata Strait 2016.

President Jokowi on Saturday (15/10), began his schedule by visiting and inaugurating Oesman Al-Khair Mosque. Upon his arrival, the President who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, received a brief explanation from North Kayong Regent, Hildi Hamid, on the construction of the mosque which was built above the sea level.

“Alhamdulillah, a grand, huge mosque, namely Oesman Al-Khair Mosque is built in North Kayong Regency. The mosque is a floating one that is very beautiful and majestic if we see it from the sea,” President Jokowi said after signing an inauguration inscription of Oesman Al-Khair Mosque.

Before heading to the location where Sail Karimata Strait 2016 takes place, President Jokowi inspected the mosque. The President also took his time to shake hands with the people on the field of the mosques.

The next President’s agenda is the main agenda of President Jokowi’s visit to North Kayong, which is to attend and inaugurate Sail Karimata Strait 2016 to be held in the court of Pulau Datok Beach.

In his remarks, President Jokowi called on the people to preserve and exploit the natural resources of Indonesia’s marine, not only in Karimata Island but also in other islands around the country.

“This Sail event should be a momentum for us to preserve, manage, and exploit our marine resources well. It also becomes our momentum to return to our identity as a maritime nation, and bring maritime culture back to the country,” the President stated.

Before the guests and people of North Kayong Regency, President Jokowi called on everyone to preserve the nature of the sea and all of its resources contained on it. “We must be able to turn maritime and fisheries sectors as a driver of Indonesia’s economy,” President Jokowi firmly said.

To conclude his remarks, President Jokowi also instructed all to organize the same event as Sail Karimata Strait 2016 in the following years because Indonesia has enormous potentials in maritime tourism, for example in Bunaken, Raja Ampat, Tomini Bay, Karimata Strait, and others. “I also asked for intensifying the promotion of the event in the following years, for example promotion through social media. Therefore, the beautiful places that I have mentioned, can be noticed in Indonesia and in the world,” the President added.

This year’s Sail Karimata Strait is enliven by several series of events, including Regional Potentials Exhibition of North Kayong Regency, the launching of ‘clean beach’ movement, and ‘smile to attract the tourists’ movement, the organization of marine sports, and several art and culture shows.

The inauguration was also enlivened with Cultural Attraction “Collosal Nusantara Dance Performance” which was presented by 450 dancers from North Kayong Regency, West Kalimantan.

Moreover, another attractions were also held in the event, including aerial maneuver from the Indonesian National Air Force aviators, operation to save crewmen from burning ship by the Indonesian National Navy, sail pass of fishermen’s boats assisted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, paramotor, and skydiving attraction from the Indonesian National Defense Forces’ joined soldiers.

To end his schedule in North Kayong, President Jokowi on Saturday (15/10), planted Jeruk Keprok Terigas (citrus sp) which is a featured product of West Kalimantan. In the event, President Jokowi was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Villages, Development of Underdeveloped Regions, and Transmigration Ekoputro Sanjoyo.

Also attending the event were Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Deputy Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Oesman Sapta Odang, Governor of West Kalimantan Cornelis, and Regent of North Kayong Hildi Hamid.

President Jokowi left from North Kayong to Pontianak on Superpuma Helicopter, and directly headed to Solo, Central Java, to carry out a working visit. (UN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)