Reporter
October 26, 2024 | 08:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate No. 1 Ridwan Kamil said he would be a fair leader for the people of Jakarta if elected and promised to pay attention to minority religious groups.
He admitted that he had experienced being a minority while living abroad. “It was difficult to perform Friday prayers, and it was also difficult to get permission to use the mosque. So I felt uncomfortable,” he said during the Declaration of Support of the Jawara Revival in Jakarta on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
From his experience, Ridwan shared his desire to embrace all religious groups if he is entrusted to be a leader in a region. He promises to be a fair leader if elected as the Governor of Jakarta in the next five years.
“According to the ulema, if the leader is fair, they will enter heaven first,” said the man familiarly known as Emil.
He stated that his commitment to embrace all religious communities will be demonstrated through his future programs. One of them is providing facilities for religious worship trips.
“We are providing Umrah trips for mosque caretakers, DKM (Mosque Prosperity Council). For Christian and Catholic believers, I will sponsor trips to the Vatican, and perhaps to Jerusalem for Protestants,” he said.
Earlier, Emil had promised to increase the quota for Umrah prayers for mosque caretakers but he would not depend on the regional budget (APBD).
Ridwan Kamil mentioned that funding for religious and social programs can come from community funds. “At most, the aspirations related to Quran teachers and mosque caretakers do not have to rely on APBD as long as the leader is creative in organizing other sources. The community fund goes back to the community,” he said in the Warakas area, Tanjung Priok District, on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Nandito Putra contributed to the writing of this article.
Categories: Ahmadis, Asia, Indonesia, Minorities