TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

House prepares deluxe welcome for King Salman’s 30 minute visit

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, March 1, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

House prepares deluxe welcome for King Salman’s 30 minute visit Saudi King Salman (left) and President Joko Widodo wave for the media during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Salman arrived in the world's largest Muslim majority nation on Wednesday as a part of a multi-nation tour aimed at boosting economic ties with Asia. (AP/POOL/Achmad Ibrahim)

W

ith hundreds of thousands of flowers now decorating the room, the House of Representatives’ Plenary Hall is ready to welcome Saudi King Salman bin Abdulazis Al Saud, who will visit the legislature to speak before thousands of invitees on Thursday.

A red carpet has been stretched out and a special chair and table prepared with a special microphone erected for the king to give a 10-minute speech. He is scheduled to speak in front of 1,500 guests, including ministers, ambassadors, political party elites and religious figures.

The King is scheduled to arrive at the House at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Zulkifli Hasan and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Mohammad Saleh will welcome him as he steps out of his car.

Entering the lobby of Nusantara building, House Speaker Setya Novanto will then wait for him to sign an official visit document on the prepared table, with a background of gebyok (a Javanese “wooden wall”) fully decorated with flowers.

A documentary about the visit of former King Faisal to Indonesia 47 years ago will also be screened to mark the event. Setya will give a welcome speech, followed by a speech by the King in Arabic.

(Read also: Heavy rain falls as King Salman reaches Bogor Palace)

The King will only be at the House for 30 minutes, before leaving at 13:30.

Damayanti, the House secretariat general's deputy chairman for hearings said that no new furniture had been prepared. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aides have visited the House four times to check on the preparations.

“They only want to ensure that all arrangements are made to make the King comfortable, given that he is already 81 years old,” Damayanti said. (rin)

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.