COVID Is Still There! MUI Asks Cianjur Residents Not To Hold Torch Parade To Commemorate Islamic New Year

JABAR - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Cianjur, West Java (West Java) appealed to residents not to hold a torch relay in commemoration of the Islamic New Year or 1 Muharram. Crowds that appear during the parade are prone to COVID-19 transmission.

Chairman of the MUI Cianjur Aang Abdul Rauf asked residents to celebrate the Islamic New Year at home, without holding a parade or other crowds. COVID, however, still exists and must be fought with strict procedures.

"Although the transmission rate has decreased, the pandemic is still happening, so we urge residents not to hold activities that can cause crowds to commemorate 1 Muharram or the Islamic New Year," he said in Cianjur, as reported by Antara, Monday, August 9.

He emphasized that his party did not prohibit residents, especially Muslims, from celebrating the Islamic New Year, but the activities were not held on a large scale, like before the pandemic, because crowds were prone to occur.

"Please hold activities in their respective homes by adding worship and offering prayers, so that the pandemic will end soon and life can return to normal, do not hold parades or activities that can invite crowds," he said.

Cianjur Police Chief AKBP Doni Hermawan said that in welcoming the Islamic New Year, it should be done in their respective places or at their respective homes as an effort to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19.

"The pandemic is still happening, it's better to hold a prayer together from each other's homes, so that it can help in suppressing the transmission rate. To anticipate, we will alert members before the eve of the Islamic New Year," he said.