We hope Aceh remains the gateway to peace and promotes the values of humanity and peace."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) celebrating Idul Fitri in Indonesias westernmost province of Aceh on Friday is a significant indication of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the nation.
The president had also said that he will start a new tradition of celebrating Eid with people in various regions this year onwards.
On Friday, July 17, President Jokowi joined the Muslim congregation at Banda Acehs Baiturrahman Grand Mosque to perform Idul Fitri prayers for 1436-H, instead of celebrating it in Jakarta as done by his predecessors.
He arrived at the mosque with First Lady Iriana at 7:05 a.m. local time. They were greeted by Governor of Aceh Zaini Abdullah and Mayor of Banda Aceh Illiza Saaduddin Djamal.
During the Eid prayer service, President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ferry Musyidan Baldan, Governor of Aceh Zaini Abdullah, and several local government officials.
"I am celebrating Eid in Aceh (because I want to start a new tradition). Indonesia stretches from Sabang (in Aceh) to Merauke (in Papua). So I am starting (the tradition) from Aceh in the west," he said during his visit to Aceh Barat district on Thursday.
As the president, he added that he wished to pay equal attention to all Indonesians across the country.
"God willing, I will be in West Sumatra next year, in West Nusa Tenggara the following year, and in Maluku the next. This way, we will all feel like we are Indonesians. There is more to Indonesia than just Jakarta," he remarked.
The prayers at the mosque in Banda Aceh were led by Syeck Ali Jaber, who acted as the preacher, as well.
During his Idul Fitri sermon, Jaber stated that being a devout Muslim was the key to attaining happiness and salvation, as Allah would ease peoples difficulties and bring them good fortune.
It was the first time Jokowi celebrated Eid as the president of the country following his inauguration on October 20, 2014.
Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla were sworn in for a five-year term of office as the president and vice president, respectively, during a plenary session of the Peoples Consultative Assembly in Jakarta on October 20.
After performing the Eid prayers, the head of state was swarmed by the people gathered at the mosque who were eager to shake hands with him.
"I am really happy to be able to shake hands with the president," Edi, one of the members of the congregation, remarked.
According to the president, he was happy to be celebrating Idul Fitri with the people of Aceh, the province he dubbed the "gateway to peace" and the "center of Islamic civilization in Indonesia."
"I am so happy to be celebrating this day of victory with Acehnese people," the head of state told the people attending a luncheon in the Tsunami Museum area in Banda Aceh on Friday.
Aceh was severely hit by a devastating tsunami on December 26, 2004.
Data from the Aceh provincial administration showed that the tsunami killed 126,741 people, rendered 93,285 missing, 500 thousand homeless, and nearly 750 thousand unemployed.
The tsunami, which is the most devastating one in living memory, affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, including Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia and Tanzania, among others.
Moreover, celebrating Idul Fitri away from Jakarta is new for an Indonesian president because the top leader usually celebrates the festival in the capital city, Jokowi pointed out.
"We hope Aceh remains the gateway to peace and promotes the values of humanity and peace," he noted, adding that he was happy to see economic growth in the province.
"I met with the governor of Aceh several times to talk about opportunities to boost the provinces economy. There are numerous opportunities available here. Aceh is expected to be the engine of the economy," he stressed.
Jokowi was not new to Aceh as he had worked and lived there in the 1980s. "I stayed in Takengon, Central Aceh, and Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, from 1985 to 1987," he revealed.
During his stay in the province, Jokowi frequently visited Banda Aceh.
Apart from that, President Jokowi emphasized that in Indonesias history, the city and province of Aceh are part of the foundation and cause for the existence of the unitary state.
In addition, on Thursday, July 16, he vowed to help expedite the development of ports in the Aceh provincial district of Aceh Barat, to strengthen efforts towards the maritime axis vision in the region.
"We spoke to (Mr.) president directly and explained three issues, particularly those related to the maritime sector and the support required to achieve food self-sufficiency in Aceh Barat," Head of West Aceh District H. T. Alaidinsyah pointed out after he met with Jokowi.
According to Alaidinsyah, the development of infrastructure to support the maritime sector, which needs to be expedited, includes the projects of the Fish Landing Port in Padang Seurahet, which began in 2013, and a harbor to connect the districts of Aceh Barat and Simeulue.
Funding of as much as Rp40 billion from the state budget has been absorbed for the construction of the harbor, which commenced in 2010, the district head stated without disclosing the total required budget for the project.
Furthermore, Jokowi also promised to help complete the development of irrigation facilities in Lhok Guci in Pante Ceureumen, West Aceh, with a budget of Rp100 billion.
During his official visit, President Jokowi shared the spirit of giving of Ramadan by distributing packages of staple food to fishermens families in Lhok Bubon village in Sama Tiga sub-district, Aceh Barat district.
The head of state also handed out student aid packages to the fishermens children and visited Suak Ribee village, where he distributed staple food packages among local residents.
(T.B003/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: Bustanuddin
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
