The Jakarta administration unveiled its first mosque in the City Hall compound on Friday in an inauguration ceremony presided over by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday.
Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama initiated the development of the two-story mosque following inquiries from Jokowi back when he was the Jakarta governor and Ahok his deputy
After the two were installed in 2012 as the city’s top officials, Jokowi asked why City Hall did not have a mosque. However, before any plans to build one could be made, Jokowi was installed as the president in 2014, Ahok told journalists at City Hall.
The construction of the mosque, which cost Rp 18.8 billion ($1.37 million), started on Sept. 18, 2015 and was completed on Dec. 28.
Ahok said he hoped that the mosque would act as a symbol to remind all civil servants of good religious teachings.
"I hope there will be no more corrupt behavior and they will be trustworthy and help others," he said.
Accompanied by Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Jokowi inaugurated the mosque and later attended Friday prayers with Jakarta civil servants.
Jokowi praised Ahok for building the mosque.
"Alhamdulillah (thank God), under the administration of Ahok, the mosque can be established," Jokowi said.
Previous Jakarta governors had planned to establish a mosque at City Hall but were always hampered by location and space constraints, Jokowi said.
The mosque was initially a musholla (prayer room) with a capacity of 400 people. The new Fatahillah Mosque can accommodate more than 1,500 people.
He also praised his former deputy for building the first Jakarta-owned grand mosque in Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, which is scheduled for completion in October.
Jakarta Post