President Jokowi Inaugurates Fatahillah Mosque

President Jokowi in the inauguration of Fatahillah Mosque, at the City Hall, Jakarta (29/1)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Friday (29/1) afternoon inaugurated Fatahillah Mosque located in the complex of Jakarta City Hall, Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta.

The two-storey mosque, which can hold a total of roughly 1,500 people will replace the old one-storey Mushola (a little mosque) which previously accomodated only 200 people.

In his remarks, President Jokowi appreciated the effort made by Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama that could materialize the wishes from former Governors of Jakarta to build a mosque in the Jakarta City Hall.

The President said that he used to think that the Istiqlal Mosque belongs to Jakarta, but a kyai (Islamic teacher) told him that it is not true. Istiqlal Mosque does not belong to Jakarta but a national’s property. Therefore, Jokowi admitted when he served as the Governor of Jakarta, he wanted to build a Great Mosque.

“It was very hard when looking for the land, the available is only in the suburbs. However, Alhamdulillah we got the land in Daan Mogot. I only laid the first stone, the implementation is 100 percent on Pak Ahok,” Jokowi explained.

President Jokowi also said that he was grateful because there are thousands of employees around the mosque.

“Alhamdulillah, now we could perform Friday prayer nearby, in the city, in the office,” the President said.

President Jokowi hopes Fatahillah Mosque becomes a symbol for the Jakarta’s Government office, and can bring new spirit.

Moreover, the President hopes Fatahillah Mosque could become the center of good deeds in order to increase faith and devotion to Allah the Almighty.

Attending the inauguration of Fatahillah Mosque were Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (DNS/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)