President to inaugurate Hindu, Buddha centers in Ambon

Ambon, Maluku (Antaranews Babel) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will inaugurate the Hindu and Buddha centers constructed by the Maluku provincial government as a symbol of harmony and tolerance of interfaith existence in Indonesia.

"We have built the religious centers to be inaugurated by President Jokowi. The construction of the Hindu and Buddha centers is part of an initiative to develop religious centers in Maluku," Head of Public Works and People's Housing Service of Maluku Ismael Usemahu stated here on Tuesday.

According to Usemahu, Maluku Governor Said Assagaff noted that the Hindu and Buddha centers symbolized harmonious inter-religious existence.

The president also plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Islamic Students Association XXX Congress in Ambon on February 9, 2018.

Usemahu remarked that Maluku had also become a research center for inter-faith harmony in Indonesia.

Moreover, the Maluku administration has constructed an Islamic center that was inaugurated by the sixth Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2012.

The government has also built Christian and Catholic centers in Ambon that were inaugurated by President Widodo on October 6, 2015.

On the occasion, Jokowi also inaugurated Baileo Oikumene, Cultural Park, Xaverius Bishop building of Ambon, Dr. Siwabessy statue, and the Masohi water purifier facility in Central Maluku.

"The Maluku administration is also building a multicultural housing complex to be occupied by residents of various religions. The administration is preparing the land," Usemahu revealed.

Meanwhile, Fauzi Marasabessy, chairman of the Islamic Students Association XXX Congress, noted that President Jokowi will attend the ceremony.

"The chairman of HMI has met President Jokowi to extend an invitation to attend the event," Marasabessy added.