Historical Luar Batang mosque to be renovated soon<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The historical Luar Batang mosque, located in the coastal area of
\nNorth Jakarta, is to be renovated according to a consultant
\nappointed by the city administration.<\/p>\n
The renovation project, which will commence later this week,
\nwill cost an estimated Rp 3 billion (US$352,000), said project
\nsupervisor Achmad Migdad.<\/p>\n
\"The renovation includes raising the land on which the mosque
\nstands because the compound always becomes inundated at high
\ntide. At the worst times, floodwater can reach one meter high,\"
\nhe told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The mosque stands on a 6,000-square-meter plot of land
\nsituated near the Old Fish Market, Sunda Kelapa harbor and the
\nMaritime Museum in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. The mosque is one
\nof the city's heritage and historical sites.<\/p>\n
The mosque was built in 1739 by Habib Husin bin Abubakar
\nAlaydrus. Habib Husin died in 1756 and is buried in the mosque
\ncompound. Thousands of Muslim pilgrims, some from abroad, visit
\nthe mosque and the grave every year.<\/p>\n
\"Peak season is on Maulid holiday (the birth of Prophet
\nMuhammad),\" said Sapar, one of the mosque's caretakers. The
\nholiday is expect to fall in mid-April.<\/p>\n
The renovation, according to Achmad, is the second phase of a
\ntotal of six that will be carried out until 2005. He said the
\ntomb housing Habib Husin's grave, the pilgrims' room and women's
\npray room would all be restored.<\/p>\n
\"We expect to complete the second phase of renovation in
\nApril, the peak of the pilgrim season.\"<\/p>\n
Renovations to modernize the mosque were carried out in 1991
\nand took six years to complete.<\/p>\n
The City Culture and Museum Agency later complained about the
\nmosque's modern design.<\/p>\n
\"The agency took a close look at the renovation plans this
\ntime,\" said Achmad, \"we will keep the design close to the
\noriginal.\"<\/p>\n
He added that the funds for the renovation came from concerned
\ndonors. \"However, we have yet to calculate the amount of funds
\nneeded for the next phases of the overall renovation.\"<\/p>\n
The following phases, he said, are the renovation of the
\nmosque's front porch, a pilgrims' guest house, the corridors and
\nthe house where the family of an elderly cleric, Habib Abdullah,
\nlives. Four towers will also be erected at the four corners of
\nthe compound.<\/p>\n
Achmad said the renovation would not deter pilgrims or nearby
\nresidents from visiting the mosque and the grave.<\/p>",
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