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)