Islamic New Year: NTB Provincial Government Urges Residents to Jointly Reduce Poverty

The Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has invited local residents to work together to reduce the poverty rate while reflecting on the Islamic New Year 1448 Hijriah. Assistant I of the NTB Regional Secretariat, Fathul Gani, stated that the Islamic New Year 1448 Hijriah must be interpreted as more than just a change in calendar numbers, unlike the fanfare of the Gregorian new year celebrations which are often marked by queues for trumpets and fireworks. “The turn of the year is an important momentum for us to reflect on what we have done in the year 1447 Hijriah, as capital to organise better steps in this year of 1448 Hijriah,” said Fathul Gani at the Hubbul Wathan Mosque in Mataram on Tuesday. According to him, strong synergy between the community and the government is the main key to ensuring regional development programmes run optimally. One crucial point of serious concern for the regional government in this new year is poverty alleviation. Under the leadership of the Governor and Deputy Governor of NTB, he said, the NTB Provincial Government is fully committed to reducing the poverty rate, which was considered still quite high in the previous year. For this reason, Fathul Gani advised that the momentum of 1 Muharram 1448 Hijriah be used as a starting point to increase social awareness. He invited the public not only to pursue personal goodness but also to actively spread benefits and give real attention to neighbours and relatives in need of a helping hand. The Islamic New Year commemoration in NTB took place solemnly. The event was centred at the Hubbul Wathan Grand Mosque in the Mataram Islamic Centre and was attended by hundreds of people who filled the main hall of the mosque.