Padang, 26 January 2024 – The Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) and Unilever Indonesia, through its five brands, namely Wipol, Vixal, Sunlight, Rinso and Molto, today held a "Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024" program at the West Sumatera Grand Mosque.
This event, which involved more than 150 volunteers, aimed to prepare the mosque to be cleaner and more hygienic so that in the upcoming Ramadan thousands of worshipers who will fill the mosque – the pride of the Minangkabau people – can worship and gather more safely and comfortably. This event was also attended by Benjie Yap, President Director of Unilever Indonesia, DMI Central and West Sumatera regional administrators, West Sumatera Grand Mosque Daily Management, West Sumatera Provincial Government, and many other community leaders.
Conducted since 2017, ’Gerakan Masjid Bersih' is a sustainable social initiative resulting from collaboration between DMI and Unilever Indonesia to encourage the clean and comfortable mosques for Muslims throughout Indonesia, especially during Ramadan. Until now, this program has been supported by more than 150,000 volunteers, and benefited 220,000 mosques across the country.
Drs. H. Andi Mappaganty, MM, Chairman of DMI's Humanitarian Social Division stated: "DMI sees that Unilever Indonesia's concern and goodwill towards the public and Muslims has been going on for a long time so there is no need to doubt. Our collaboration through the ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih’ program has been fostered since 2017. Following up on the signing of the MoU late last year, in 2024 DMI and Unilever started this program in the city of Padang. Insya Allah, this program will continue to benefit mosques and worshipers in various parts of Indonesia."
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. H. Duski Samad, M.Ag., Chairman of the West Sumatera DMI Regional Leadership also said: "The West Sumatera DMI Regional Leadership accepts and facilitates this ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih’ program based on three foundations, namely
(1) The Obedience Principle: Obeying in the sense of being loyal and obedient to the parent organization of the DMI Central Leadership as the initiator of cooperation is a commendable act and must be strengthened. (2) The Friendship Principle: Unilever Indonesia, as a company that produces hygiene products, has been working with DMI for the Gerakan Masjid Bersih for a long time. Even during the COVID-19 period, it distributed mosque cleaning products and equipment. (3) The Benefit Principle: Mosques really need cleaning products and Unilever Indonesia produces them so that they should always be utilized for all mosques."
This effort is also becoming increasingly important because, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the rainy season will continue until April 2024 or until past Eid al-Fitr. As a result, there are various risks of diseases that commonly arise during the rainy season, not the least in public facilities such as mosques. For this reason, collaboration is needed to ensure cleanliness from now on.
Anggya Kumala, Head of Home & Hygiene Unilever Indonesia explained: "'Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024' will reach 50,000 mosques in various parts of Indonesia. Activities include cleaning mosques, with Marbut and residents in five grand mosques in five cities spread from the West to the East of the archipelago – including the West Sumatera Grand Mosque, as the first stop.”
“We started this in January so that more extensive education on cleanliness could be received earlier and mosques could have more time to prepare for the cleanliness and hygiene of their facilities and environment. This does not only involve mosque hygiene: with the support of our five brands, Wipol, Vixal, Sunlight, Rinso, and Molto, we also educate the public on the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of prayer equipment, cooking and eating utensils, and the environment around the mosque more broadly."
Today's cleaning activities carried out at the West Sumatera Grand Mosque included cleaning the floors, hallways, toilets and ablution rooms of the mosque so that they are free from germs; it also included washing prayer devices and cleaning cooking and eating utensils so that they are safe for use by mosque administrators and worshipers. Donations of hygiene product packages were also handed over, along with an invitation to keep the mosque clean so that the congregation can be inspired to implement these good habits in their homes. Held since morning, the event involved 100 mosques representatives, and 50 women from the Majelis Taklim community.
Another special feature of the ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024' program is that, for the first time, it is open to the general public to nominate mosques around them to benefit from this program. From February 17-March 2024, the public can contact the WhatsApp number +628561581158 to send photos and interesting stories about their mosques. Later, 1,000 selected mosques from various parts of Indonesia will receive positive benefits from this program in the form of cleaning packages that can improve the comfort of worshipers and mosque hygiene.
"Thank you for the support and cooperation from the DMI West Sumatera and the management of the West Sumatera Grand Mosque so that Alhamdulillah today's activities can take place smoothly. We hope that all the agendas that we carry out can bring goodness, blessings, and benefits to the public and the Muslims in Ranah Minang. Aamiin Ya Rabbal Aalaamiin," Anggya concluded.