Pekanbaru Secures MURI Record with Mass ASN Quran Recitation

The Pekanbaru City Government has again achieved national recognition by securing a Museum Rekor Indonesia (MURI) record during the city’s 242nd anniversary celebrations. The record was set through the simultaneous recitation of Surah Al-Mulk by 9,184 civil servants (ASN) and non-civil servant staff at the An-Nur Grand Mosque courtyard in Pekanbaru on Saturday, 4 July 2026. Thousands of participants, dressed in white, recited Surah Al-Mulk together, creating a solemn religious atmosphere and a historic moment for the city. Mayor Agung Nugroho stressed that the activity was not merely about breaking a record but was part of an effort to build a bureaucratic culture grounded in Quranic values. He noted that Surah Al-Mulk is known as Al-Mani’ah, a chapter that offers protection from the torment of the grave, and expressed hope that the demands of public service would not cause civil servants to neglect their spiritual provisions. The Mayor stated that the record is merely a historical note, while the greater goal is to produce apparatuses with integrity and trustworthiness who use the Quran as a guide in their work. He added that the surah teaches that all power belongs to Allah SWT, serving as a reminder that a position is a mandate that must be accounted for. Agung Nugroho expressed his hope that the movement would not end that evening and that the culture of Quranic recitation would continue to thrive within the Pekanbaru City Government and inspire other regions in Indonesia. Following the achievement, the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) presented a certificate of appreciation to the Pekanbaru City Government for organising the simultaneous recitation of Surah Al-Mulk with the largest number of participants. The event continued with a mass religious lecture delivered by national preacher Ustadz Das’ad Latif, who praised the city government’s initiative to make the Quran part of character building for civil servants. He remarked that employees who diligently recite the Quran would, God willing, be unwilling to engage in corruption, and that those who understand Surah Al-Mulk will realise that all power belongs to Allah, making them humble and dedicated to serving the public. As a token of appreciation, the Pekanbaru City Government also held a prize draw for participants, including three umrah travel packages for lucky civil servants. This Quran recitation record marks the third MURI record achieved by the Pekanbaru City Government under the leadership of Mayor Agung Nugroho, following a record for the longest durian layer cake and a previous record for the largest mass free wedding featuring couples in traditional Malay attire.