TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Saturday (15/4) inaugurated KH Hasyim Asyari Great Mosque located on Jalan Daan Mogot, West Jakarta.
Jokowi hit a bedug (a large two-sided drum) and put his signature on an inscription to make the inauguration of the mosque.
In his remarks, Jokowi said the mosque has been long overdue because Jakarta has not have had a great mosque so far.
"Alhamdulillah (All praise to God), it has been finished 100%,” Jokowi said.
Regarding the name of the mosque, Jokowi said the government wants to appreciate the struggle of Hasyim Asyari, the founder of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s second largest Islamic organization. According to Jokowi, Hasyim Ashari had a strong commitment to traching friendly and moderate form of Islam.
"We have to emulate him” Jokowi said.
The construction of the mosque, which was built on an areas of 2.4 hectares and with the size of the building of 1.7 hectare square, began in September 2014.
The construction of this two-story mosque used Rp165 billion from the Jakarta regional budget. The mosque can accommodate at least 12,500 people.
ADITYA BUDIMAN
