National MTQ Participants Arrive in Semarang; Central Java Prepares 15 Buses and 13 Venues
As of Thursday (10/9) at 17:00 WIB, 847 participants and officials from 12 provinces have arrived. A total of 13 venues have been prepared for the competitions and supporting activities.
“Alhamdulillah, today we have received 847 participants and officials entering Central Java,” stated the Vice Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen, in a statement on Friday (11/9/2026).
He made this remark while welcoming the Vice Governor of Southwest Papua, Ahmad Nausrau, at Tawang Station, Semarang City, on Thursday (10/9) evening. The Southwest Papua delegation arrived first, while the province’s governor, Speaker of the Regional Parliament, and regional secretary are scheduled to follow today.
Taj Yasin emphasised that the Central Java Provincial Government has ensured the readiness of accommodation for the delegations and attending regional heads. Other preparations include catering, transport, security, health posts, ambulances, medical personnel, and referral hospitals.
Furthermore, 1emb 13 locations have been prepared for the Musabaqah and supporting activities. These locations include the Simpang Lima area, the Great Mosque of Central Java, the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque of Semarang, and the PRPP area.
The Central Java Provincial Government has also prepared 15 buses to support the mobility of the delegations, judges, committee members, and guests. Each province is receiving specialised assistance from one regional agency within the Central Java Provincial Government. For instance, the Southwest Papua delegation is being assisted by the Environmental and Forestry Service.
“Each agency is accompanying one province to host them and provide information regarding their needs during the MTQ. We are also offering tours to the delegations who wish to sightsee, as buses have been prepared,” explained Taj Yasin.
The welcoming atmosphere was warm. Upon arrival, Taj Yasin and Ahmad sat side-by-side in the VIP lounge of Tawang Station. Their conversation flowed easily, alternating between Indonesian, Javanese, and Arabic.
During the encounter, Ahmad shared that he had previously studied at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. He also holds a personal connection to Central Java, as his wife, Ida Priyanti Nausrau, hails from Cilacap Regency. Ahmad mentioned that his arrival this time is not only to accompany the Southwest Papua delegation to the National MTQ but also feels like returning to his roots.
“I am returning home. My wife is Javanese, from Cilacap. Clearly, this is not just about participating in the MTQ, but also about coming home,” he remarked.
Ahmad expressed his emotion at being personally welcomed by Taj Yasin and the Central Java Provincial Government officials, particularly as Taj Yasin also serves as the Chairman of the Central Java Al-Qur’an Recitation Development Institute.
According to Ahmad, the National MTQ is not merely a competition arena but also a momentum to strengthen Islamic brotherhood, national unity, and togetherness between regions. He noted that Southwest Papua will study the organisation of the National MTQ in Central Java as a reference for potentially bidding to host the event in the future.
Ahmad assessed that the attractions of Southwest Papua, including Raja Ampat, could serve as a magnet for participants from across Indonesia. If approved by the central government, this would mark the first National MTQ held in the Land of Papua.
He emphasised that the presence of the Southwest Papua leadership is a form of full support for their delegation. The qari and qariah (reciters) arrived early to allow more time for adaptation and to maximise practice before the competition begins.
“For us, the important thing is participation. Winning or losing comes later. The priority is how the values of the Al-Qur’an are internalised and practised in the social life of the community,” Ahmad concluded.