Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan Urges Hajj Alumni to Strengthen Social Concern

Bandung Mayor, Muhammad Farhan, has invited all elements of society, particularly hajj alumni, to use the momentum of maintaining ties as a driver for social concern. He conveyed this during his attendance at the Grand Reunion and Halal Bihalal of the Hajj Association of the Assalaam Foundation (IHYA) across generations from 1993 to 2025 at Bandung City Hall on Sunday (5/4/2026).

In his speech, Farhan emphasised that the essence of the hajj pilgrimage and post-Eid gatherings must transform into tangible actions for the surrounding community. He hopes that the hajj alumni will not only be strong spiritually but also become the driving force for community empowerment.

“The halal bihalal momentum is not just an occasion for maintaining ties, but also a means to strengthen collective commitment in building social concern. Maintaining ties must impact concern. We do not just gather, but also strengthen our commitment to help and empower each other,” said Farhan.

Although Bandung City’s macroeconomic indicators show a positive trend, Farhan does not deny the significant challenge of economic disparity. He presented data indicating that there are still tens of thousands of Bandung residents living below the poverty line with very limited incomes.

“There are still our brothers and sisters living on an income of around Rp60,000 per day. This is a shared challenge that we must address. High economic growth must be accompanied by equitable distribution so that social justice can be felt by all parties,” he stated.

Farhan also explained the reason for opening Bandung City Hall for community events like this grand reunion. According to him, government offices must become open spaces that bring officials closer to the people.

“Events like this are important so that those of us working in government do not become distant from the community. This serves as a reminder for our ranks to not forget ourselves and remain grounded,” he explained.

In closing his address, the Mayor invited the extended family of the Hajj Association of the Assalaam Foundation to initiate concrete steps in helping to eradicate poverty in Bandung City. He believes that collaboration between the government and community groups with strong economic and spiritual capacity will accelerate the realisation of social justice.

“May this togetherness bring blessings and become the beginning of concrete steps to empower the people of Bandung City,” he concluded.