Megawati to Perform Umrah in Mecca, Basarah: Pray for the Safety of the Indonesian Nation and People

MECCA, KOMPAS - After a week-long visit to Rome, Italy, the 5th President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, continued her trip to Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah pilgrimage. Not only will she pray for her family, but Megawati will also pray for the safety of the nation and the people of Indonesia during the pilgrimage, which is said to have been prepared well in advance.

Megawati arrived in Mecca on Sunday (2/9/2024) at 9:00 PM local time. Accompanied by her son Mohammad Rizki Pratama and her daughter Puan Maharani, Megawati traveled by land for approximately two hours from King Abdul Aziz Airport, Jeddah. According to the plan, Megawati will be in Saudi Arabia until February 13 to perform the umrah pilgrimage at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, as well as to visit the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina.

Puan revealed that Megawati has long wanted to perform the umrah pilgrimage with her family. "Because the last time she went to the Holy Land was in 2012 when she performed the hajj pilgrimage with the late Mr. Taufiq Kiemas," said Puan, who was wearing a black abaya.

Of course, Mrs. Mega will also surely pray for the safety of the nation and the state as well as the people of Indonesia to be spared from all kinds of trials. Additionally, she will pray for the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia to be maintained.

The arrival of Megawati and her entourage was welcomed by the Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ahmad, the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Yusron Ambari, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia Zuhairi Misrawi. The Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Ahmad Basarah and a member of the PDI-P faction in the House of Representatives Abidin Fikri, who had arrived earlier in Saudi Arabia, also welcomed Megawati's arrival.

Basarah revealed that while in the Holy Land, Megawati not only prayed for herself and her family but also for the nation, the country, and the people of Indonesia. As a Muslim woman, Megawati understands that umrah is a sunnah worship full of blessings and mercy.

"Of course, Mrs. Mega will also pray for the safety of the nation and the country as well as the people of Indonesia to be spared from all kinds of trials. In addition, she will also pray for the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia to be maintained," said the Chairman of the PDI-P faction in the MPR.

Megawati, who is scheduled to perform the umrah pilgrimage on Tuesday (11/2/2024), will certainly pray for her deceased family members, Basarah continued. From her father, Bung Karno; her mother, Fatmawati; to her husband, Taufiq Kiemas.

"And of course, she will also pray personally. I think the prayers that Ibu Mega has prepared during her Umrah pilgrimage have been prepared as well as possible," said Basarah.

Before visiting Saudi Arabia, Megawati visited Rome, Italy to carry out a number of agendas. Megawati among others attended the World Leaders Summit on Children's Rights at the Papal Palace, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, and met with the President of Global Scholas Occurentes Jose Maria del Corral.