From Education to Corruption Eradication: Citizens' Prayers at Monas

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A number of citizens attending the National Dhikr and Prayer event at the National Monument (Monas) area in Jakarta on Saturday offered prayers for improvements in the quality of Indonesia’s educational institutions.

“I came here to perform dhikr and pray, hoping that our country, Indonesia, becomes a safe nation that makes the Indonesian people, including ourselves, proud, and that there is an increase in education within each institution,” said Aliyah (58) when met at Monas, Jakarta, on Saturday. Aliyah is the Headmaster of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Babakan Peundeuy, located in the Pelabuhan Ratu district, Sukabumi, West Java. Approximately 1,500 people were mobilised via 30 buses departing from Sukabumi.

However, according to Rahman, the most pressing issue to be resolved in Indonesia is corruption. “This is the biggest problem; I will be blunt, we must eradicate the corruption that stains Indonesia. That is perhaps our heaviest challenge this year,” Rahman stated.

Musthofa (18), a fellow student of Rahman, also expressed hope that Indonesia’s various challenges could be resolved. He hopes that by the month of Indonesia’s Independence Day, the nation’s condition will continue to improve, ranging from governance to society. “For the future, may the Indonesian nation and our country continue to improve, and may this year’s problems be resolved moving forward,” said Musthofa.

Attendees of the National Dhikr and Prayer event received souvenirs from the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Indonesia, consisting of prayer mats and prayer sets, specifically prayer robes (mukena) for women and sarongs for men. The Ministry of Religious Affairs estimates that the event was attended by approximately 100,000 people from various regions across Indonesia. The event was open to the public and took place from 17:00 to 21:30 WIB as part of the efforts to welcome the Independence Month of the Republic of Indonesia.