Haeril Halim, Cilacap, Central Java – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo filled the first day of his Central Java working tour on Thursday with various religious activities by visiting several Islamic boarding schools in Cilacap regency.
His first stop was the Al Ihya Ulumudin Islamic boarding school in Cilacap to honor late Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric Chasbullah Badawi, who passed away on June 5. The NU is the largest Islamic organizations in the country known for its campaign for tolerant Islam, Islam Nusantara, or Islam of the Archipelago.
The President is known for its close relationship with NU clerics, especially in Central Java and East Java, a majority of whom threw their support behind Jokowi during the 2014 presidential elections against former army general Prabowo Subianto."I apologize for not being able to come here when [Chasbullah] left us. I am here this afternoon to pay my condolences to his family and the local government," Jokowi told hundreds Al Ihya Ulumudin students as well as residents who came to the school to see the President.
In his speech, Jokowi also encouraged students and residents to respect the value of pluralism and Indonesia as a multicultural nation.
Jokowi then moved on to Miftahul Huda boarding school in Cilacap to greet hundreds of students and NU clerics. He also delivered messages of tolerance to the audience. "Don't blame each other for our differences. We are all brothers as Muslims and we need to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood," he said.
On his way to the third Islamic boarding school, Jokowi asked his driver stop in the middle of the route to break the fast by drinking a bottle of water in the car with his son Kaesang Pangarep. He also ordered a five-minute stop for his motorcade, allowing his entourage to break their fast before moving on with their trip.
After arriving at Darussalam Islamic boarding school in Banyumas regency, Jokowi distributed 10 tons of rice, two tons of sugar and 50 kilograms of meat in aid from state-owned companies to students and residents. Jokowi also pledged to clerics to build a three-story building to be used by students at the Islamic boarding school.
On Friday, Jokowi will continue his trip to Banjarnegara regency to distribute the Indonesia Smart Card to local students. (dmr)