Soeharto, Try to attend 'Takbir'

Soeharto, Try to attend 'Takbir'

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto and Vice President Try
Sutrisno are scheduled to attend the Takbiran prayer on the eve
of Idul Fitri at Monas (the National Monument) on Feb. 8.

"As many as 100,000 Moslems are expected to flock to the Monas
area for the occasion," Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said after
meeting the President at Merdeka Palace.

"We hope no one will disturb the religious event," he said.

The event will start at 5:00 p.m. with popular Islamic
preacher Zainuddin MZ addressing worshipers.

At 7:30 p.m. President Soeharto will address the public and
give his Idul Fitri wish.

Surjadi, along with Religious Affairs Minister Tarmizi Taher,
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Hasan Basri, Takbiran
event committee head Probosutedjo and Central Jakarta Mayor Abdul
Kahfi, met with the President to report about the preparations
for the Takbiran.

Tarmizi said the prayer reading at Monas was in response to
public demand. Surjadi said it had become a tradition like people
celebrating by traveling around the city playing bedug drums.

"Only this year will be special because the President is
coming and we will have a popular ulema with us," the Governor
said.

The breaking of the fast will be followed by a mass dusk
prayer. The President is scheduled to make a short address to
Idul Fitri revelers and then strike a bedug drum.

Probosutejo quoted the President saying he hoped all
television stations would cover the event.

"So the arrangement of this year's Takbiran would really be a
cooperation between the municipality, business circles and the
ulema," Probosutejo said.

The event will cost about Rp 1.6 billion, Probosutejo said.
(sur/anr)