President Jokowi Visits Langitan Islamic Boarding School

President Jokowi visits Langitan Islamic Boarding School in Mandungan Hamlet, Widang Village, Widang District, Tuban Regency, East Java. Thursday (8/3). (Photo by: Public Relations/Agung).

On the sidelines of his working visit to Gresik and Lamongan, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (8/3) visited Langitan Islamic Boarding School in Mandungan Hamlet, Widang Village, Widang District, Tuban Regency, East Java.

The President was welcomed by Chairman of the School KH Ubaidillah Faqih and some other caretakers.

The School has been established since 1852, making it one the oldest Islamic education institutions in Indonesia. The name ‘langitan’ itself is derived from Javanese word ‘plangitan’, a combination of the word plang (name plate) and wetan (east).

In a gathering attended by thousands of students at the School, President Jokowi in his remarks reminded that Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world. In addition, the President stated that Indonesia has also the biggest number of Islamic students in the world and no other country besides Indonesia has a Santri Day. “Alhamdulillah, we have to be grateful for these,” the President said.

Indonesia has a population of 268 million people, 85% of which are Muslims; however, Indonesia is also a diverse country that has around 714 ethnicities, President Jokowi added.

The President further said that Indonesia is different from Singapore that has 4 ethnicities or Afghanistan that only has seven ethnicities. “There are different ethnicities from Sabang until Merauke, from Pulau Mianggas until Rote Island. There are also different regional languages and religions.”

Therefore, the President called on the students to safeguard unity, integrity, harmony, brotherhood, Ukhuwah Islamiah (Islamic brotherhood), Ukhuwah Wathaniyah (brotherhood of the nation), and most importantly Ukhuwah Basyariyah (brotherhood among human beings). “We must not forget that all these differences are blessings given by Allah to the Indonesian people,” the President concluded. (DID/AGG/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)