President Prabowo to Open Indonesian Islamic Congress

President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend and open the 8th Indonesian Islamic Congress (KUII VIII) on Friday (24/7) afternoon, according to KH Marsudi Syuhud, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Chairman of the Steering Committee for KUII VIII. The five-yearly forum, initiated by MUI, will serve as a grand consolidation event for approximately 87 Islamic organizations from across Indonesia. The congress is set to take place from July 24-26 at the Bidakara Hotel in Jakarta. "The event will be opened by the President, on July 24, around 4:00 PM Western Indonesian Time (WIB)," stated Kiai Marsudi, quoting the official MUI website on Thursday (23/7). Following the opening ceremony by Prabowo, the congress will proceed with various plenary sessions. KUII is an organizational mandate held at least once every five years. MUI, as the "big house" for Indonesian Muslims, bears the moral and organizational responsibility to facilitate this grand deliberation. Kiai Marsudi emphasized that KUII VIII is not merely a ceremonial gathering of figures but is designed as a space for critical and strategic dialogue to contribute concrete ideas to the government. Besides President Prabowo, the three-day plenary sessions will feature a lineup of cabinet ministers, heads of state institutions, law enforcement officials, and academics from various disciplines. "Nation-building is a necessity. Therefore, criticism is normal if there are inputs to the government during this congress," he remarked. Kiai Marsudi expressed his hope that the outcomes of KUII VIII deliberations will provide concrete contributions to the nation's resilience in facing various contemporary challenges. "The goal is for the welfare of the nation and its people," he concluded. Information Source: CNN Indonesia