Ministers and Officials Join President for Halalbihalal at the Palace
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet, leaders of high state institutions, and other officials participated in a halalbihalal with President Prabowo Subianto during the open house event at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, on Saturday afternoon.
The group of officials was received by President Prabowo after the Head of State had mingled with members of the public who visited the Presidential Palace during the open house since Saturday afternoon.
Among the group of officials were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto with his wife, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana with her husband, businessman Wisnu Wardhana, and Deputy Minister for Population and Family Development Isyana Bagoes Oka with her family.
In the same group were also Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) RI Ahmad Muzani, Speaker of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) RI Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM Rosan Perkasa Roeslani with his wife, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait, CIO of Danantara Pandu Sjahrir, and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, who wore a complete Malay kurung outfit with songket fabric.
During the halalbihalal event, there were also Head of the State-Owned Enterprises Regulatory Agency Dony Oskaria, Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Arif Satria, and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa with his wife and children.
Behind Purbaya was National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, President Director of PLN Darmawan Prasodjo, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, and Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Didit Herdiawan Ashaf.
The group of state officials and other guests queued from the front door of Istana Merdeka to shake hands one by one with President Prabowo.
The open house at the Presidential Palace during Eid al-Fitr is a routine annual agenda held every year during President Prabowo’s administration.
During the Eid al-Fitr celebration moment, the Presidential Palace was open to the general public.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, when met by journalists during the open house, explained that the number of people entering the Palace for halalbihalal with the President reached 4,000 to 5,000 people.
“We provide opportunities for the public who wish to attend voluntarily; they are welcome. As long as it is still possible, we allow them to enter the Istana Merdeka grounds,” said Prasetyo Hadi.
Residents who came for halalbihalal with the President entered from the back door of the State Palace, then walked into the central courtyard area of the Presidential Palace.
A variety of typical Lebaran foods, such as ketupat and opor, then empal gentong and bakso, were served to the public attending the open house at the Palace.
The halalbihalal and open house event at the Palace was then closed on Saturday evening around 6:00 PM WIB.