President Jokowi Opens Desa Madani National Jamboree

President Jokowi opens the Desa Madani National Jamboree organized by the Indonesian Muslim Brotherhood (Parmusi), at Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Tuesday (09/26). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Tuesday (09/26) officially opened the Desa Madani National Jamboree organized by the Indonesian Muslim Brotherhood (Parmusi) at Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java province.

“I highly appreciate the convening of the Desa Madani National Jamboree program, which is attended by thousands of preachers who have made tangible contributions in villages,” the President said.

The President also expressed his enthusiasm for the constructive program initiated by Parmusi in developing civilized village communities.

According to the President, civilized village development is based on four pillars, including faith and piety, economics, social empowerment, and education.

“As we recall there is a similar program carried out by the Indonesian military soldiers back in the day. Now, Islamic preachers are entering villages, prepared, and vigilant to both foster development and ensure protection,” he said.

The program, he continued, aligns with the Government’s commitment to fostering development in rural and remote areas throughout Indonesia with the distribution of Village Funds amounting to Rp539 trillion to support 74,800 villages from 2015 to the present.

“Many people say something like, ‘Sir, the development is only around toll roads, airports, seaports.’ They forget the fact that the Government has allocated Village Funds worth Rp539 trillion this year to 74,800 villages throughout the country,” he said.

The President also revealed that the Village Funds have been used to construct 326 thousand kilometers of rural roads, 6,400 reservoirs, and 14,000 village markets.

The President also underscored that physical development would lack meaning without concurrent human resources development in the villages.

“The preachers play pivotal roles in strengthening human resource development, especially those related to the characters, manners, and morals of the people in the villages,” the President remarked. (FID/UN) (RIF/EP)