Gov’t to Re-Build Quake-Damaged At-Taqarrub Mosque in Pidie Jaya

President Jokowi and Ministers of the Working Cabinet visit At-Taqarrub Great Mosque in Pidie Jaya, Aceh, Thursday(15/12). (Photo by: Bureau of Press and Media/Kris)

The Government will re-build At-Taqarrub Great Mosque located in Keude Village, Trienggadeng, Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh. The mosque has collapsed after a powerful quake measuring 6.4 in Richter Scale hit Pidie Jaya Regency on Wednesday (7/12).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Thursday (15/12) laid the cornerstone for the construction of the mosque. President Jokowi previously visited the mosque on Friday (9/12).

“Today, we have laid the cornerstone and the construction will begin soon. We hope it will be finished before the fasting month of Ramadan in 2018. In Shaa Allah it will be finished,” the President said.

President Jokowi went on to say that the pattern of the re-construction of the mosque should be followed by the re-construction of public facilities damaged by the quake.

“The reconstruction model should also be like this, including for schools – be it primary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, and vocational schools. All will be the same – we will clean the buildings first before we begin the construction,” the President said.

Regarding the re-construction of buildings damaged by the quake, President Jokowi pledged that the Government would prioritize to re-build public facilities.

“For the people’s buildings, we have also given assistance. Including for those suffering from minor, medium, and severe damages. We just have to wait for the decree from regents or governors. But I’ve instructed that starting next week, everything has to be clean and the construction has to begin soon, especially schools,” the President said.

Before laying the cornerstone for the construction of At-Taqarrub Great Mosque, President Jokowi also visited Peulandok Tunong Public Primary School in Gampong Peulandok Tunong, Trienggadeng Sub-district, Pidie Jaya Regency. The school building is now used as an evacuation center. In the school, the President also met with residents taking shelters there and had a limited meeting with a number of ministers.

“(The meeting was held) to accelerate processes on the ground in the form of construction, giving assistance for buildings suffering from medium and minor damages and the distribution of logistics so that everything can be well-organized,” the President said.

Also joining the President during the visit were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei and Acting Aceh Governor Aceh Soedarmo. (BPMI/UN/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)