... I hand a cow as the sacrificial animal of mine and my family for distribution among members of Istiqlal mosque congregation who are entitled to receive it...
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Yudhoyono handed a cow to the Istiqlal mosque's animal sacrifice committee shortly after performing Idul Adha prayers at the Southeast Asia's largest mosque on Sunday.

"I hand a cow as the sacrificial animal of mine and my family for distribution among members of Istiqlal mosque congregation who are entitled to receive it," the President said when handing the cow to the mosque's animal sacrifice committee.

The President was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono when handing the cow weighing 1.2 tons to the committee.

Also on Sunday, Vice President Boediono in the company of his wife handed a cow weighing 1.1 tons to the committee.

The mosque received a total of 60 cows and 27 goats as sacrificial animals this year.

The sacrificial animals will be slaughtered on Sunday night for distribution among those entitled to receive it on Monday morning.

The mosque's animal sacrifice committee has made available about 10 thousand vouchers to the public to receive 1 kg of sacrificial meat each.

The Idul Adha prayers at the mosque began at 07.00 a.m. with KH Ahmad Husni Ismail as an imam and Prof Dr HA Qadir Gassing as a preacher.

In his sermon, Qadir Gassing underscored the importance of eradicating corruption and nepotism and of upholding the law.

Vice President Boediono could not join Idul Adha prayers at the mosque last year as he conducted working visits in Japan and South Korea. (S012)

Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2011