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More sermons to be given at Monas
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Dancing fountain at the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta's iconic landmark, Aug. 12. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
M
ore Islamic sermons will be given at the National Monument (Monas) compound starting this weekend, a policy seen as a realization of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s campaign promise to open the area to religious activities.
Monas technical managing unit head Arista Nurbaya said a cultural event would be held on the grounds on Nov. 26 in which a carnival and mass dance performance involving 16,000 dancers would take place in the morning, while a sermon would be given in the evening.
“We are expecting more than 60,000 visitors over the weekend, and expect more when the sermon is given in the evening,” Arista told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
She said the evening sermon was organized by Jakarta’s largest prayer group, Majelis Rasulullah. She added that the group would hold another event on Dec. 1.
“Other Islamic groups have booked the Monas area on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2,” she added.
Majelis Rasulullah previously held mass prayers and gave sermons at Monas a number of times, reportedly leaving trash behind. Ahok prohibited in 2015 Majelis Rasulullah and other religious groups from holding mass religious activities in the area.
Ahok argued at that time that members of Majelis Rasulullah had misused the permit granted to the group by inviting street vendors to operate in the compound.
However, Arista said she had briefed the organizers to maintain order in the area. Monas is managed by 426 staffers, with 295 cleaning staffs and 126 security staffs, as well as five ticketing staffers and guides. (dis)
