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Ahmad Dahlan's great grandson to lead Istiqlal renovation
The architect of the renovation is Munichy Bachron Edrees, the great-grandson of Muslim organization Muhammadiyah founder Ahmad Dahlan.
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People perform tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) on the eve of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta. (The Jakarta Post/R. Berto Wedhatama )
T
he government is set to completely renovate the country’s iconic Istiqlal Mosque in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta and its outdoor area.
Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the ministry had allocated Rp 465.3 billion (US$32 million) for the project. The ministry will oversee the renovation of the mosque that was built by noted architect Friedrich Silaban 41 years ago.
The architect of the renovation is Munichy Bachron Edrees, the great-grandson of Muslim organization Muhammadiyah founder Ahmad Dahlan, kompas.com reported.
The minister added that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asked him in May last year to renovate the mosque after the President had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jokowi at that time took Modi to several places, including Istiqlal Mosque, which was built between 1961 and 1978.
“When he [President Jokowi] was showing Modi around the ground floor of the mosque, Pak Jokowi was surprised. He became aware that the mosque really needed renovation,” Basuki told the press after the contract signing ceremony at his office in South Jakarta.
The minister said the renovation of the mosque that had a capacity of 200,000 people was expected to be completed before Ramadan next year. The renovation would not modify the building's structure or characteristics.
The project will be carried out by state-owned construction company PT Waskita Karya. (das)
