PANGKALPINANG -- PT Timah Tbk is distributing Corporate Social Responsibility assistance programs to help build houses of worship in PT Timah Tbk's operational areas.
In June 2023, PT Timah Tbk handed over assistance to four houses of worship in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province and Riau Islands Province.
The four houses of worship that received assistance from members of the MIND ID mining industry holding are Nur Hidayah Mosque in Katis Village, Central Bangka Regency, Al Barkah Sijuk Mosque, and Surau Istiqomah in Belitung Regency and Surau Baitul Ana Dusun IV, Perayun Village, North Kundur District.
The head of the Istiqomah Surau Dedi Sutrisno said that the construction of their surau was constrained by the budget, moreover, the surau was far enough from the main road so that not many people knew that there was a surau at that location.
Dedi explained that the congregation praying at the surau was quite crowded, especially during the Maghrib prayer, Isha. So they took the initiative to rebuild this surau to increase the capacity of the congregation.
"We are expanding our buildings, and we are developing them to one side, including the construction of an ablution area," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive for the Construction of the Baitul Surau Ana Parmin said that the construction of this surau had been going on for a long time, but they were constrained in continuing due to limited funds. So far, development has only relied on self-supporting funds from the community.
"Actually, this construction has been carried out for a long time, but due to financial constraints, we are doing it according to the funds collected from self-help communities," said Parmin.
According to him, they will use assistance from PT Timah Tbk for the construction of an ablution place. So that it can make it easier for the congregation who wants to worship in this prayer room.
"I, as the head of the construction activities of Surau Baitul - Ana Hamlet IV Ujung Baru, Perayun Village, representing the Management and the Community, express my gratitude for PT Timah's participation and attention to community activities," he said.
Ridwan said that the assistance from PT Timah Tbk would be used to make a parking lot at their mosque.
"The location, which has a sloping land contour, makes it a bit difficult for us to realize this parking lot because it requires a large enough fund to wall it. With the help from PT Timah and other donors, God willing, this parking lot will be completed more quickly," said Ridwan.
Ridwan added, their mosque was also a place for sending off pilgrims from Simpang Katis sub-district, so it would be very crowded and often only relied on the shoulder of the road because there was no parking space.
"Hopefully with this assistance, our dream of having a parking space can come true. Of course, this is also for the convenience of the congregation and also the convenience of road users as well, especially since there had been a single traffic accident in the area of ??this mosque," he said. (*)
