Heru Calls DKI Provincial Government Employees Prefer Eid Prayers At City Hall Instead Of JIS

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono in the National Monument area, Thursday, March 16. (Diah-VOI)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono revealed the reason for choosing to hold Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijri prayers at the Fatahillah Mosque in the DKI City Hall area compared to the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS).

Heru said that his decision to hold Eid prayers at the mosque located in his office was based on the wishes of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government employees.

"I asked my friends, where do you want Eid prayers? They answered 'just here (City Hall), sir'. Yes, I have followed it," said Heru at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Thursday, April 6.

Moreover, according to Heru, holding Eid prayers at the mosque is easier in terms of preparation, than in the field or stadium.

"I'm just simple. I think it's fixed (Idulfitri prayers) at City Hall because from the results of the employee talks, most of them ask at City Hall," he continued.

In previous years, the Fatahillah Mosque has routinely been a place for Eid prayers for the Governor of DKI Jakarta since several periods ago.

Then, when JIS was completed and officially operated, the stadium in Papanggo, North Jakarta became the location of the Eid prayer held by former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

Anies first held Eid prayers at JIS on May 2, 2022 in the western ramp area, when restrictions on community activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic had been relaxed. Then, Anies again held Eid prayers on July 10, 2022 at the same location.

However, Heru did not want to explain the reason why he decided not to continue the tradition of Anies holding the national religious holiday at JIS.

"It's okay (not to hold Eid prayers at JIS)," said the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres).

Meanwhile, the chairman of the PKS faction of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Achmad Yani, asked JIS to return to the Eid prayer area. This request was made to PT Jakarta Propertindo as the manager of JIS.

"This is for Jakpro, last time at JIS there was a takbiran night, sir, I was present at that time, then in the morning there was an Eid prayer event. I was quite lively, yes, quite good," said Yani at the Commission B meeting of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Tuesday, April 4.

According to Yani, the DKI Provincial Government needs to continue the tradition of Anies holding Eid prayers at the stadium located in Papanggo, North Jakarta.

"This year, (Idul Fitri prayer) will be held (at JIS) or not, sir? Although, it is actually good to do something positive, it can be maintained," he said.