In Front Of The Vice President, Indonesian Students In Egypt: Student Summary 12,000, Dormitory Capacity 1,200

Vice President Maruf Amin during a dialogue with Indonesian students in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday 5 November. (ANTARA/HO-BPMI Setwapres)

JAKARTA - An Indonesian student named M Ikramurrahman Amin proposed to Vice President Maruf Amin to add dormitories to his education location in Egypt.

The student's suggestion was when the Vice President held a discussion with the Egyptian Indonesian Student and Student Association (PPMI) at the Wisma Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, November 5.

"Indeed, there are dormitories built during the reign of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but only have a capacity of 1,200 people. Meanwhile, the number of Indonesian students currently in Egypt is approximately 12,000 people. So we hereby hope that there will be new Indonesian dormitories again," said Ikram in a written statement from the Vice President, quoted from Antara.

Ikram said the need for the construction of new dormitories for Indonesian students in Egypt is also to protect and protect students from all criminal acts ranging from theft, home rental fraud, to physical violence that continues to increase every year.

"One of our obstacles as students here is the high level of crime that we feel, especially physical violence, house break-in, home rental fraud, and all kinds of things," he said.

Responding to the proposal, the Vice President promised to follow up with the Indonesian Ambassador in Egypt.

"The proposal regarding dormitories, I welcome this proposal. And later, Mr. Ambassador, I ask that the reasons be finalized, all rational considerations," said the Vice President.

If the construction of this dormitory is realized, the Vice President continued, he proposes to be named the current President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

"Hopefully I will convey this to Pak Jokowi so that this will be a concern. If later it can be built (name) not Maruf Amin's dormitory, but Joko Widodo," he said to the applause of students.

Furthermore, another student named Teja Wirahadikusuma who came from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) asked questions about the role and contribution of students, including how to strengthen the da'wah Islam wasathiyah (moderate) which is in line with the life of the nation and state.

Answering this question, the Vice President explained that Indonesian students in Egypt must be serious in demanding knowledge so that they can pass on time.

"Developing wasathiyah Islam, I ask you to try making some kind of writing, according to students with a lot of references about wasathiyah Islam and also about how Indonesia applies wasathiyah Islam," said the vice president.

Finally, a student named Huna Ayu Rosyidah on this occasion asked the Vice President how to carry out the teachings of Islam wasathiyah while maintaining a balance between the world and the hereafter.

Regarding this question, the Vice President also answered that the key to carrying out wasathiyah Islamic teachings is having a sense of concern and not being excessive in religion.

In religion, you must not ignore or interpret, namely you do not have any concern for religious issues, the issue of da'wah, you don't care. It's an artrid. But it's not really ifrad, it's excessive to forcing people, cursing people, the da'wah is excessive," he explained.

Including, he continued, as history records that Islam entered Indonesia peacefully and there was no violence. This shows that Islam is a tolerant religion so that it is easily accepted by various groups.

"We must continue to maintain it until now that there is no violence in us to build that religion from the first, until now, until whenever. This is the wasathiyah Islam that we have built," he said.

Likewise, in world affairs, said the Vice President, in carrying out Islamic wasathiyah, please help in goodness to be done regardless of its religious background.