Jokowi Asks People to Pray for His Mother from Home

President Jokowi has asked people to pray for his mother from home and not to come to the funeral home or the cemetery. The President has instead asked that citizens continue to practice physical distancing.

FOTO KEPRESIDENAN

President Joko Widodo pays his last respects to his beloved mother, Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo, who was buried on Thursday (26/3/2020) in Sumber village, Banjarsari district, Surakarta, Central Java. Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo passed away at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday (25/3/2020) at Slamet Riyadi Hospital, Surakarta.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Despite his deep grief over the death of his mother, Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo continues to think about the safety of all citizens. The former Jakarta Governor has also asked officials not to come to the cemetery, and instead pray for his late mother from home.

President Jokowi‘s request was communicated by State Secretary Pratikno on Thursday (3/26/2020).

"With all due respect, please send your prayers from home. There is no need to rush en masse to the funeral home or to the cemetery because we still have to practice physical distancing," Pratikno said while conveying the President\'s message by short message service (SMS) to reporters.

Mrs. Sudjiatmi died at Slamet Riyadi Hospital (DKT) Surakarta on Wednesday afternoon (3/25/2020). According to the plan, Sudjiatmi was laid to rest at the family plot in Mundu, Karanganyar, Central Java, at one o’clock on Thursday afternoon.

DOK. BIRO PERS DAN MEDIA SETPRES

President Joko Widodo’s mother, Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo.

The President issued the public request for people to refrain from visiting the funeral home in order to protect them by maintaining physical distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Even so, Pratikno said, Jokowi could not ban officials or members of the public who wanted to come to the wake or attend the funeral. To mourners, Jokowi also advised that they maintain distance from other people.

"For those who are present, please keep distance as per the government’s call," he said.

The President also expressed his gratitude to all Indonesians who had prayed for his mother at her passing.

"The President thanks the public and all citizens of Indonesia who have expressed their condolences and prayed for the late Mrs. Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo. Hopefully, the deceased is in a state of husnul khotimah [peaceful end] and gain the most glorious place in Allah’s presence," said Pratikno.

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

President Joko Widodo (center) speaks on Wednesday (3/25/2020) about the death of his beloved mother, Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo, at her home in Solo, Central Java. Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo passed away at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday (25/3/2020) at Slamet Ryadi Hospital, Surakarta.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung Wibowo, who was also in Solo, revealed that the President was staying relatively strong despite his mother’s passing. “Last night, the State Secretary and I accompanied Mr. President until 11 p.m. He was very strong,” he said.

The President even continued to think about his duty, especially in relation to the management of Covid-19. The President was also still preparing to attend the virtual G-20 Summit leaders meeting scheduled for Thursday night.

Separately, United Development Party politician Syaifullah Tamliha asked all Muslims in Indonesia to hold a funeral prayer for the late Mrs. Sudjiatmi at home. He said that the at-home funeral prayer could be a replacement for a public funeral, because of the restrictions against holding a funeral prayer during the coronavirus outbreak.