REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKASSAR -- President Joko Widodo is scheduled to open the 47th Congress of Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah at Karebosi Square here on Monday.
General Chairman of Muhammadiyah for the 2005-2010 and 2010 - 2015 terms Din Syamsuddin made the statement when closing an advance meeting of the congress here on Sunday.
The advance meeting of the Muhammadiyah congress was held at the Muhammadiyah University in Makassar.
Syamsuddin said he had informed Minister/State Secretary Pratikno and Chief Presidential Staff Luhut Panjaitan about the plan of the President to open the Muhammadiyah congress.
"Thank God, the President and the First Lady Madam Iriani will attend the congress. I have confirmed his plan to attend the congress to the minister/state secretary and the chief presidential staff," he said.
He said the President is expected to arrive in Makassar on Sunday evening.
In the meantime, preparations for the 47th congress of Muhammadiyah have been completed, according to a spokesman.
"Preparations have been completed, and some 5,000 people are expected to arrive at Makassar Port," the chairman of the organizing committee for the 47th congress of Muhammadiyah, Saiful Saleh, said on Thursday last week.
He added that President Joko Widodo and several cabinet ministers will attend the opening ceremony of the Muhammadiyah congress.
Saleh pointed out that the President is scheduled to deliever an address.
"I met (the president) in Jakarta. He is expected to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the congress. The closing ceremony of the congress will be attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla," Saleh affirmed.
He further noted that the organizing committee has made preparations in 32 hotels in the South Sulawesi provincial city of Makassar, to accommodate those who will be participating and supporting the congress.
The total budget to organize the congress amounted to some Rp32 billion. The funds are required for a series of activities for the congress.
One of the activities that will be held prior to the event is a parade of 205 fishing boats, which is the age of Muhammadiyah, Saleh stated.
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