REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SIDOARJO -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) flagged off a santri (Islamic boarding schools students) carnival and morning walk in Sidoarjo Square in East Java on Sunday morning. He arrived in the square at 6:15 a.m and was welcomed by Sidoarjo District Head Saiful Illah and the santris who would take part in the carnival.
The carnival began to move as the President waved the flag at the start lines. "With reading the name of God, most gracious and most merciful, (I) flag off the carnival and morning walk," the President who was clad in a 'koko' white shirt, black sarong and black cap, said.
Also attending the flagging of the event were East Java Governor Soekarwo, Minister/State Secretary Pramono Anung, Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir, Manpower Minister Dhakiri and Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaeman.
Also present were the Chairman of the Nation's Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar and religious figure who is also Jokowi's running mate KH Ma'ruf Amin.
After flagging off the carnival and morning walk, President Jokowi walked to the Delta Wibawa Pendopo (a building which is part of a traditional housing) of Sidoarjo District. On the occasion, President Jokowi and his entourage held a closed-door meeting with representatives of a number of santris.