TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is slated Saturday to inaugurate Oesman Al-Khair Grand Mosque in North Kayong, West Kalimantan.
“Insya Allah, the mosque will be inaugurated tomorrow by the President. It’s the pride of [North Kayong] locals,” North Kayong Regent Hildi Hamid said on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Oesman Al-Khair Mosque is named after the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker, who granted his land for the mosque, which has Middle Eastern-style architecture.
“Mr. Oesman Sapta Oedang has been very generous to grant his land and donate up to Rp11 billion for the construction of the mosque; accordingly, we have named it as the mosque of Mr. Oesman’s generosity or Oesman Al-Khair,” Hildi said.
Most of the structure of the white-painted mosque is built above the ocean, which creates the illusion that the it hovers over the waters when seen from a distance.
Having completed constructions within five years, the mosque with a capacity of 3,000 congregations cost roughly Rp38 billion.
Hildi is hopeful that the grand mosque can become a tourist attraction of North Kayong.
“I believe it can become an icon of religious tourism in North Kayong. I think it will attract [tourists], more so because it’s built on the ocean,” he concluded.
ANTARA
