Surabaya, CNN Indonesia —
Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi reminded all officials and the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) not to hold an excessive iftar event. However, he invited his staff to hold iftar together with orphans and poor people.
Eri said President Joko Widodo had issued a Circular letter ordering government officials and employees not to hold joint Iftar activities during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This directive was conveyed in the Cabinet Secretariat Letter Number R-38/Seskab/DKK/03/2023.
“It has been explained by the Cabinet Secretariat, Pak Pramono Anung, that people are still allowed to break their fast together. So, what is not permissible is civil servants breaking their fast like what? Excessive iftar with orphans, yes it is permissible, please differentiate,” said Eri, Monday (27/3).
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There are at least three points of direction in the contents of the letter numbered R-38/Seskab/DKK/03/2023 dated March 21, 2023. First, the handling of Covid-19 is currently in transition from a pandemic to endemic, so caution is still required.
Then the second point, in connection with this, the implementation of joint iftar activities in the Holy Month of Ramadan 1444 H should be abolished. As for the third point, the Minister of Home Affairs should follow up on the directives mentioned above to the governors, regents and mayors.
Eri ensured that in the circular there was no prohibition for people who wanted to break their fast together. However, he also warned ASN or officials within the Surabaya City Government not to hold an excessive iftar event.
“If civil servants hold iftar together with orphans (may). But if civil servants, for example, hold iftar together in an office in a hotel, that (may not),” said Eri.
According to Eri, so far, breaking the fast with orphans and poor people has become a routine agenda for ASN Surabaya City Government during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Therefore, he welcomes the activity.
“(ASN) The City Government does not make it mandatory if you want to (hold) breaking fast together, please. But with the duafa, the poor and orphans,” he said.
Eri also said that previously the municipal government had issued Circular Letter number 100.34/7055/436.8.6/2023 concerning the implementation of activities for the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr 1444 H/2023 M. This circular letter has been distributed to the Heads of RT/RW, mosque administrators / prayer rooms, social / religious institutions to business managers in Surabaya.
“The SE is in accordance with what was conveyed by Mr. Setkab, which was in the President’s letter. So there is no sentence there which prohibits residents from breaking the fast together,” he said.
(frd/isn)
(Gambas:Video CNN)