Pramono Rejected, The 'Minister Of Recitation' Program RK Supported By Religious Leaders

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JAKARTA - The 'Maghrib Mengaji' program for children throughout Jakarta initiated by the Ridwan Kamil-Suwono pair if they won the Jakarta Pilkada contestation, was welcomed positively by the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, Ahmad Fahrur Rozi or Gus Fahrur, and Deputy Chairman of the DKI Jakarta Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership Agus Suradika.

"Yes, if it is true, it is very good so that Jakarta children are diligent in studying. We agree to the congregational and recitational prayer program if it is carried out properly and consistently," said Gus Fahrur in Jakarta, quoted Friday (18/10/2024).

It's an old tradition in Jakarta. After Maghrib before Isha, children usually recite in surau and once the mayor of West Jakarta initiated it, but because the scope may only be in the form of a circular from the mayor, the program is not running optimally," said Agus Suradika in Jakarta to VOI, Saturday, October 19.

The Maghrib Mengaji program, which was raised by the RK-Suswono pair, had sparked a polemic when the Pramono-Rano duo considered RK-Suswono to make religion a campaign tool. Pramono emphasized that religion and ethnicity should not be used in politics. The PDIP politician argued that his party wanted to create a sense of security for the citizens of Jakarta.

Pramono then also mentioned RK-Suswono who initiated the program to be obliged to recite the Koran for school children. He said the gubernatorial election was not religious but built Jakarta.

"It's not at all. That someone proposes to go to Maghrib in his high school and then recite the Koran, so go ahead with them, we don't. Because for us, the gubernatorial election is not a religious thing, but how to build Jakarta," Pramono said in front of residents in the Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) area, North Jakarta, last Saturday (28/9/2024).

Religious Atmospheres Need

Gus Fahrur emphasized that religious atmosphere is a very important value in modern human life because the holy book teaches noble values that need to be used as a guideline in society, nation and state.

"The formation of a character on the basis of religious moral morals is much more effective and efficient than other bases," said Gus Fahrur to VOI, Saturday, October 19.

Meanwhile, Agus Suradika revealed that Muhammadiyah had long conveyed to the government the need for Maghrib to recite the Koran for children. He fully supports RK if RK wants to realize and promote the Maghrib Mengaji program in Jakarta.

"I think if Mr. Ridwan Kamil wants to initiate this, it will be very good and must be formalized into the form of Pergub at least, thankfully to become a Regional Regulation," he said.

"After becoming a regional regulation, all of them bind to carry out Maghrib to Isya for Muslims, they must recite the Koran at home. I think this is very good to be a concern as well as the DKI Jakarta Regional Government, where Jakarta residents are predominantly Muslim," said Agus Suradika.

According to him, it can indeed lead to controversy when people consider religious education as a private sphere. The problem is, the future of these nation's children must be strengthened with a high aspect of spirituality. And it is the state's obligation as well as the local government to strengthen spirituality, so that Jakarta residents can still interact with the progress of the times.

"So the arguments that reject it may be because they see how this is a private domain. But don't forget, if there is a moral degradation of the citizens, it will be the loss for all of us. So the state is obliged, the government must participate," explained Agus Suradika.