Minister Asks Islamic Scholars To Support Jokowi Administration's Programs

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Marwan Jafar has called on Islamic scholars - kiai and ulemas, to support a number of programs being carried out by the administration of Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla.

"We call on kiai and ulemas to support the government," Marwan Jafar said here on Sunday.

They could at least a play a role in making the public understand that helping a number of the government's programs is part of ibadah (worship).

"Ulemas and kiai are crucial to give a religious foundation to the public, that they should have the intention of ibadah in helping the government's programs," he stated.

The supports of kiai and ulemas could be expressed in some routine religious fora such as istighotsah (a big rally for prayers) and "tahlilan" ritual, according to the minister.

He also hoped Islamic boarding schools to create cadres that could help promote the development of rural areas. "Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) could also carry out empowerment activities  by organizing trainings for students and villages in agriculture-based productive business development and rural creative economic," he noted. (WDY)