Dozens of people swarmed around acting Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama as he arrived at At-Taqwa Mosque in North Jakarta on Wednesday.
At-Taqwa was the first mosque visited by Ahok in his series of visits to dozens of mosques throughout the city. The move is considered historic, with Ahok being the first Christian governor to partake in the program.
Still wearing the white shirt and black trousers he had worn at City Hall, he took off his shoes and entered the mosque, blending in with local residents and taking a seat on the mosque’s floor.
When it was time to break the fast, the head of the mosque recited the prayers.
Ahok, an Indonesian of Chinese descent, tried to say the prayers in respect of the Muslim worshippers, although it was apparent that he did not really know the words.
Dozens of local residents watched as he sat inside the mosque. Men wearing sarongs and peci (rimless black caps) and women wearing hijab packed the building.
“Which one is Pak Ahok? The one with the glasses?” asked one man. The head of the mosque then invited Ahok to make a speech.
He took the podium, said the standard greeting and spoke quietly and respectfully, unlike his default loud voice.
“I am thankful that a mosque here still accepts me as a guest,” Ahok said, referring to recent incidents of intolerance in the country.
He also took the chance to donate Rp 15 million (US$1,265) from the city’s Muslim Charitable Donations Board (Bazis) to the mosque for its development and maintenance.
“Hopefully we can keep our silaturahim even after Ramadhan,” he said. Silaturahim is an Arabic word that means “keeping in contact” or “establishing compassion”.
When the hundreds of residents left to conduct Maghrib prayers, Ahok stood but stayed behind to mingle with residents, who scrambled to get their picture taken with him.
“Would anyone else like to take their picture with me? Come on, come here,” he joked after posing for dozens of pictures.
Several residents took the chance to express their disappointment with the city’s public services.
“Pak, please help us. Our water is dirty and it smells like a sewer,” one resident said.
Ahok then got busy on his phone, presumably contacting the responsible officials. “Yes, I will try to help,” he said.
Residents seemed in awe of the acting governor. Some watched his every move, while others took
pictures of him sitting on the mosque floor.
One resident, Poniman Adi Suseno, said he had come to the mosque especially to see Ahok. “I was so excited to see Pak Ahok. I can’t believe he came here even though he’s not a Muslim. It shows just how tolerant our city is,” said the 61-year-old.
As non-active Jakarta governor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been on leave due to his presidential bid, as acting governor, Ahok is obliged to carry out the annual Ramadhan “safari” program.
Ahok is scheduled to visit the likes of Jami Nurul Yaqin Mosque in South Jakarta on July 7, Sunda Kelapa Mosque in Central Jakarta on July 10, Darul Muttaqin Mosque in East Jakarta on July 11, the Jakarta Islamic Center in North Jakarta on July 14, Istora Senayan in South Jakarta on July 15 and An-Nizhom Mosque in Central Jakarta on
July 16. (dwa)
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