Menag Receives 100 Tons of Dates from the King of Saudi Arabia for the Indonesian People

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar symbolically received 100 tons of dates from King Salman of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi (ANTARA/Katriana)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar on Wednesday received 100 tons of dates from King Salman of Saudi Arabia which were intended for the Indonesian people ahead of Ramadan.

"This year we get the best quality dates, about 100-90 tons," said the Minister of Religion at the date handover event at the Ministry of Religion, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 11, reported by ANTARA.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar, representing the Indonesian people, expressed gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia for the gift of dates, and promised to hand over the aid to those who are entitled.

"The Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia expresses its deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which every year always allocates dates. God willing, we will certainly continue to give it to those who are most entitled to receive it," he said.

According to the Minister of Religion, dates, especially from Saudi Arabia, for the Indonesian people are like spiritual fruits and have their own place in their hearts.

"The Indonesian people assume that dates are a meal to break the fast. So in the Indonesian community, the taste of fasting is not special if it is not opened with dates," he said.

The Minister of Religion said that this year, dates from Saudi Arabia will also be distributed to the new capital in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

"We have communicated with the head of the authority. And God willing, we will also allocate a portion to the new capital city," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi, said the gift of dates was in line with the direct instructions of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz.

"The gift is a confirmation of the strong relationship between Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the relationship has now reached a strategic level," he said.

The assistance is also to emphasize how deep the relationship is between the two governments.

The ambassador hopes that the provision of dates can meet the needs of Muslims in Indonesia and they can welcome Ramadan with happiness.