Over 700 Malaysians celebrate Aidiladha at Jakarta embassy

JAKARTA: More than 700 Malaysians today celebrated Aidiladha with joy and the spirit of 'gotong royong' (mutual assistance) at the Embassy of Malaysia in Indonesia here.
The celebration began with Aidiladha prayers at the embassy complex, led by the Religious Affairs Attache at the embassy, Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ariffin.
After the prayers and sermon, Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and his wife, Datin Seri Che Mahani Ismail, and the other Malaysians had a meal of Malaysian food and traditional cakes.
The gathering then participated in a 'gotong royong' activity to apportion the sacrificial meat of four cows and 14 goats for distribution to the poor in Jakarta and to prepare lunch.
Zahrain said the number of Malaysians celebrating Aidiladha at the embassy this year was much larger than in previous years because a large number of Malaysian students also joined in the activity and many Malaysians came to the embassy instead of returning home for the occasion.

Abdul Rauf Rimi, a student of Sunan Gunung Djati Islamic State University, Bandung, said more than 100 students had helped out with apportioning the meat and the cooking.
"The feeling is just like being in our own village," said Abdul Rauf who is from Sabah.
He said the students were happy to be able to join other Malaysians and partake in Malaysian food away from home.
Meanwhile, Aidiladha was celebrated with joy in the city as people gathered at mosques for prayers and to collect sacrificial meat.
President Joko Widodo celebrated Aidiladha with thousands of people in Sukabumi, West Java. He contributed cows for the sacrificial slaughter at the Kota Sukabumi Grand Mosque.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla joined worshippers for prayers at Masjid Istiqlal here. — Bernama