Jakarta's Ancient Mosque on Brink of Collapse
-- A two hundred and fifty-three-year old Al Anwar mosque in Jakarta is now on the brink of collapse due to the lack of maintenance, Antara news agency reported Friday, quoting a caretaker of the mosque H.Ahmad Suproyatna as saying.
Supriyatna, 71, said the repair of the cultural relics in Jakarta has become most urgent like mending cracks on the walls of the old mosque, sinking floors and collapsed or leaking roof.
I have made a request to the cultural office of the Jakarta city administration in February 2006 for funds to be used for the repair of the damaged roof, but a response was still awaited," he said.
Supriyatna, who has been taking care of the mosque since 1968 said that most of the money spent on repairs came from alms and regular contributions.
Regarding expenditures, Supriyatna said he has to pay the fees of four cleaning service personnel, in addition to spending millions in electricity bills and for Quran reading teachers.
The mosque which was built in the 1700s has teakwooden doors of Balinese-carving type and renovated seven times.
The mosque represents mixed Balinese, Chinese and Dutch architecture, Supriyatna said, adding that it is hardly possible to repair this kind of mosque appropriately as it needed a lot of money.
"Although this ancient mosque was classified as a cultural relic, and supposed to be a special attraction to foreign tourists, but very few came there because it is located deep in Kampung Bali, Jakarta," he added.
According to him the mosque would celebrate its 253rd anniversary on September 20 this year.
-- Bernama, Malaysia
I have made a request to the cultural office of the Jakarta city administration in February 2006 for funds to be used for the repair of the damaged roof, but a response was still awaited," he said.
Supriyatna, who has been taking care of the mosque since 1968 said that most of the money spent on repairs came from alms and regular contributions.
Regarding expenditures, Supriyatna said he has to pay the fees of four cleaning service personnel, in addition to spending millions in electricity bills and for Quran reading teachers.
The mosque which was built in the 1700s has teakwooden doors of Balinese-carving type and renovated seven times.
The mosque represents mixed Balinese, Chinese and Dutch architecture, Supriyatna said, adding that it is hardly possible to repair this kind of mosque appropriately as it needed a lot of money.
"Although this ancient mosque was classified as a cultural relic, and supposed to be a special attraction to foreign tourists, but very few came there because it is located deep in Kampung Bali, Jakarta," he added.
According to him the mosque would celebrate its 253rd anniversary on September 20 this year.
-- Bernama, Malaysia
