…if the (iftar) budget (prepared by the officials) in the district, city, and provincial governments as well as in the ministry is used to provide food to the people, it will be more useful.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has suggested that the budget prepared by government institutions for group iftar be spent on providing food assistance to the community.

He made the statement on the heels of President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi’s) directive to all government institutions to not host group iftar during Ramadan 1444 Hijri, which began on March 23, 2023, as per an announcement from the Religious Affairs Ministry.

”I, (and) all (government officials), are asked to not hold the group iftar. Hence, if there is (already) a budget (for the activity), it should be used to provide assistance to people who are in need," the minister said at the Presidential Palace here on Friday.

In this way, the iftar budget will be more beneficial since it would directly benefit the community, he noted.

"If we (government officials) carry out the group iftar, it will be only us who enjoy it,” Hasan said.

“However, if the (iftar) budget (prepared by the officials) in the district, city, and provincial governments as well as in the ministry is used to provide food to the people, it will be more useful," he added.

Earlier, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas also said that it would be better to donate the budget for group iftar to people in need, such as the poor and orphans.

The Cabinet Secretariat issued Circular Letter Number R-38/Seskab/DKK/03/2023 dated March 21, 2023, containing the President’s directive prohibiting the implementation of group iftar.

The letter was addressed to the ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, the attorney general, the commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces, the chief of the National Police, as well as the heads of government agencies/institutions.

Considering the COVID-19 situation in Indonesia, which is making the transition from pandemic to endemic, President Widodo instructed that no group iftar be implemented during the fasting month.

Through the letter, the President also asked Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian to disseminate the instruction to governors, district heads, and mayors.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said on Thursday (March 23, 2023) that the prohibition only applies to government officials and not the general public.

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Translator: Indra Pribadi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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