He made the statement when opening the national meeting of Nahdlatul Ulama clerics and a grand prayer to meet the upcoming fasting month of Ramadhan at the Istiqlal Mosque here on Sunday.
He said the date has not yet been determined because there have been various proposals coming from the community with regard to it.
"Why it has not yet been decided it is because many quarters have proposed different dates," he said before around 40,000 NU members from various regions.
He said some proposed the date on the Islamic New Year (Muharram 1) while others proposed other dates including NU general chairman KH Said Aqil Siradj who proposed October 22.
The President said he had accommodated all of the proposals made with all their reasons and backgrounds.
"Just now Pak Kyai (Said Aqil Siradj) proposed October 22 and usually what Pak Kyai says will alwasy be adhered to," he said.
President Joko Widodo said he would discuss the proposal with the religious affairs minister with regard to immediately completing the process so that the date could be immediately set.
"It will be immediately processed. If all agree it will be immediately taken to my desk and I will immediately sign it," he said.
Said Aqil Siradj said he did not agree with the proposal for declaring Muharram 1 as the National Santri Day because the new year is the date commemorated by all Muslims in the world. ***4***
reporting by hanni sofia soepardi
(H016/H-YH)
(H-YH/B/H-YH)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
