Sports Minister Asks for Prayer, Support of Ulema for Asian Games
9 June 2018 16:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi met Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Ma`ruf Amin in Jakarta on Friday, June 8, to ask the support and prayers of the ulema for the implementation of the 2018 Asian Games and Para Games.
"I want MUI to help us make the circular letter to the ulema in Indonesia to pray for Indonesia's success in the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games during Eid al-Fitr sermons, Friday prayers, and other religious talks," Imam said in an official statement, in Jakarta, Friday.
According to the minister, prayers and support are expected to make the two events to be successful, as well as to avoid unexpected events and allow the contingent of Indonesia to get high achievement which is beneficial for the country.
The Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games will take place on August 18 to September 2. In addition to these two cities, Banten and West Java Provinces will serve as the host of several sports, while the Asian Para Games take place in Jakarta, October 6-13.
The government targets the implementation, achievement, administration, and economic empowerment to be succesfully achieved. In terms of achievement, the government has set a target to reach the top ten and make the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games as the momentum of the revival of Indonesia's glory in sports.
Meanwhile, Chairman of MUI KH Ma'ruf Amin hopes the wishes will be achieved and he will follow up by making a circular calling on ulema to insert prayers for the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games in every religious lecture.
"We really agree with this idea and will soon make the circular letter. I want this sporting event (Asian Games) to be a unifying tool of all the differences between us and a unifying of the nations in Asia," he said.
In addition to MUI, the sports ministry also asks for support of all institutions that oversee religious leaders, such as the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI), Council of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Indonesian Buddhist Representatives (Walubi), and Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI).
ANTARA