MPR Deputy Speaker Criticises Jombang Pre-Dawn Ramadan Event for Using Loud Sound Systems and Provocative Dancers

MPR Deputy Speaker from the PKS faction, Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW), has criticised a sahur on the road (SOTR) event in Jombang that featured massive loud sound systems, known locally as “sound horeg,” and provocative dancers. HNW deemed the activity inconsistent with the essence of Ramadan fasting.

“If those loud sound systems are associated with sahur on the road, it simply doesn’t make sense,” Hidayat told reporters on Tuesday (24/2/2026).

He argued that pre-dawn sahur events should aim to wake people up to eat in an ethical and non-disruptive manner. HNW stressed that activities generating excessive noise contradict the spirit of the sahur period.

“If there is to be a sahur on the road event, it should genuinely serve to remind and wake people for sahur, not to disturb those having their pre-dawn meal, and not to undermine the essence of fasting, which includes maintaining ethics, decency, and propriety,” he explained.

HNW emphasised that the use of massive sound systems during sahur is far removed from the principles of fasting, adding that the pre-dawn period should instead bring comfort.

“We as Muslims in Indonesia are asked to be tolerant, even towards non-Muslims who are not fasting. Surely we should also be tolerant towards fellow Muslims who are fasting by providing a comfortable environment for worship, including during sahur,” he said.

“Don’t disrupt people with activities that claim to use fasting terminology but are actually far removed from the values of fasting itself,” he added.

Furthermore, HNW noted that the event lacked permits from the village government and police. He called on authorities and local government to clamp down on such activities.

“If that is the case, the village government, regional authorities, and police should immediately halt and restore order, because this clearly disrupts public order, disturbs the comfort of those fasting, and does not help create a more conducive atmosphere for fasting, especially in the context of sahur,” he said.

HNW also drew attention to the fact that the event took place in Jombang, a city widely known as a centre of Islamic boarding schools and religious learning.

“They should therefore have the self-awareness not to continue this activity, and it would be very commendable if they also had the courage to apologise to the people of Jombang and the Indonesian public at large, as this has already become viral news spreading everywhere,” he said.

The sahur on the road event in Jombang went viral for featuring multiple massive sound systems and provocative dancers. The event was confirmed to have been held without a permit.

The SOTR event was posted on several social media accounts, showing thousands of people parading on motorcycles following the sound systems. They passed through village roads and rice paddies from the early hours of darkness until daylight.

Hengki, the Secretary of Jatibanjar Village in Ploso Sub-district, confirmed that the SOTR with loud sound systems took place on the road connecting his village with Sumbergondang Village in Kabuh Sub-district on Sunday morning (22/2). He stressed that the Jatibanjar village administration did not organise the event.

“The provocative dancing should not have been there — it is inappropriate during the fasting month,” he said.