Palembang Grand Mosque Inaugurated By President Megawati Soekarnoputri In Today's Memory, June 16, 2003

Forms of the Great Mosque of Palembang in the Dutch East Indies era. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA Memories of today, 20 years ago, June 16, 2003, President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin I Grand Mosque or better known as the recently renovated Palembang Grand Mosque. The inauguration confirms Megawati's commitment as a figure close to Islam.

Previously, Megawati's close relationship with Islam came from her mother's grandfather (Hassan Din) and her father, Soekarno, who became part of Muhammadiyah. This fact made Megawati close to many Islamic figures. Moreover, she is ready to help all kinds of needs of Muslims.

Islam and Megawati are two things that cannot be separated. This closeness has even been rooted from the first in his family. His father, Soekarno, from a young age, was active in discussions that were perpetuated by Muhammadiyah.

Bung Karno finally studied Islam. The actions made Bung Karno friends and studied with many scholars. Mainly, when Bung Karno was exiled to Bengkulu. He knew many Muhammadiyah figures in Bengkulu, including the father of his future wife Fatmawati, Hassan Din. The figure who later became the grandfather of Megawati.

That family line made Megawati understand the Islamic world a lot. Even though her grandfather and father were gone. He was able to stand up for the interests of Islam. Especially when he became Indonesia's number one person.

Megawati does not want Islam to be seen as low by the world. He even contributed to moving his staff to actively renovate madrasas to mosques that have high historical value. Everything so that Muslims can worship comfortably. Therefore, Megawati's leadership is considered one of the important milestones in the nation's history.

In this perspective, the appearance of Mrs. Mega as the first female president is an important milestone to condensate ancient opinions about the position of women in the phrase: suwarga nunut, naraka katut (entering heaven with husband--, entering hell is carried away)

This expression is a picture of a concentrated feudal culture, where women are nothing more than servants. The modern century phenomenon has crippled this unfair and inhumane view," said Ahmad Syafii Maarif in the book Megawati: Son of the Dawn (2012).

Megawati's concern in renovating the mosque also penetrated Palembang, South Sumatra. His power to renovate the Palembang Grand Mosque was renovated. The renovation activity was perpetuated to emphasize the splendor of the Great Mosque of Palembang as an icon of the city.

Moreover, so that the mosque can accommodate more Muslims. Renovation of mosques with Malay, Chinese, and European culture began in 2000. Renovation of mosques was completed in 2003. Megawati also acted as the figure who inaugurated the Palembang Grand Mosque on June 16, 2003.

Since 2000, the Grand Mosque has been renovated, and completed on June 16, 2003, to coincide with the inauguration of the Indonesian Presidentialolch Hj. Megawati Soekarnoputri. The magnificent and sturdy Palembang Grand Mosque is now able to accommodate 9000 worshipers.

The center of Islamic Kajjan in Palembang Architecture. The Great Mosque and other old mosques in Palembang are symbolically high in philosophical value," explained Jimly Asshiddiqie in the 60th anniversary of Jimly Asshiddiqie: Figure, Kiprah, and Thoughts (2016).