REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG -- Chairman of National Mandate Party (PAN), Hatta Rajasa who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said that a mosque could be the center of change to achieve a better life in society.
Mosque can educate children to be the best generation, Rajasa said during the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), South Sumatra recently.
Many people in OKI are still under poverty line. Rajasa said that a mosque can also be a driver of economic growth. A mosque can develop business through Islamic educational center and the establishment of cooperatives around mosques.
On the other hand, several mosques in Bali finance its activities from business results, such as Baitul Makmur and Ukhuwah mosque. Managers let Muslim traders to rent the land of mosque.
Chairman of Baitul Makmur Foundation, Sentot Surengrono said there were 20 plots areas for rent. Merchants pay 500 thousand IDR per month as rental fee. The mosque collected at least 120 million IDR from it.
"We use the money to finance many activities in mosque," Surengrono said Location of Baitul Makmur mosque is very strategic. It is adjacent to Muhammadiyah School, so it is used as a selling place.
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