Iftar Cabinet Fasting, Jokowi Gets To Talk With Prabowo-Airlangga

President Joko Widodo spoke with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto on the sidelines of breaking the fast with the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (28/3/2024). ANTARA/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had a conversation with the Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto on the sidelines of breaking the fast with the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, March 28.

Based on observations, the joint iftar event was attended by a number of cabinet ministers.

The ministers sat facing several round tables that had been prepared.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga and Defense Minister Prabowo and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Hadi Tjahjanto sat at the same table with President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

On the left side of the President, Airlangga and Prabowo were seen sitting. While on the right side it appears that the Vice President and Hadi Tjahjanto are sitting.

Before the event started, the ministers who sat at their respective tables seemed to talk to each other.

Meanwhile, at the desk of the President and Vice President, Jokowi was seen talking to Prabowo and Airlangga.

It is not known for sure what conversation the President had with the minister. However, the atmosphere of breaking the fast seemed warm and full of laughter.

The event began friendlyly with members of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet. Then continued with tausiah by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

The vice president in his tausiah conveyed the laws of nature and sharia law, as well as fasting as special worship.

"Fasting is a special worship. Why is it special? Because fasting is unclear (not visible to the eye). Between people fasting and not fasting, there is no difference," said the Vice President.

The vice president also conveyed about self-control. He hopes that the Indonesian people can control themselves after the election.

"Well, I think hopefully we all as a nation can control ourselves, especially after this election," he hoped.

After the Vice President conveyed the tausiah, it was the turn of Ora Islamic Boarding School caregiver Aji Sleman Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman or who is familiarly called Gus Miftah to convey tausiah.

In his tausiah, Gus Miftah conveyed that Ramadhan came with blessings, not only for Muslims, but also for other religious people.

"There is a joke about fighting for takjil snacks. At 3 o'clock, non-Islamic people have eaten takjil, it's your turn at 5 o'clock, Muslims want takjil snacks, it's over. So I tried to reply when tomorrow I will buy all the eggs, so non-Islam can only buy Kinder Joy eggs," joked Gus Miftah, who was greeted with laughter from the audience.

He also said that the average president in the Islamic world is often accompanied by a funny comedian, one of whom is Abu Nawas who is a figure who lives during the reign of Khalifah Harun Al-Rasyid.

"But I'm sure Pak Jokowi doesn't need to invite comedians, because there is a funny minister, Mr. Bahlil. I suspect Mr. Bahlil is a minister not because of achievements but because he is funny," he said.

On that occasion, Gus Miftah expressed his belief about the love of the Indonesian people for President Jokowi.