PANGKALPINANG -- Homecoming is a tradition that is rarely missed at the moment of Eid al-Fitr. However, not everyone can return to their hometown for various reasons.
For this reason, the Bangka Students and Student Association (ISBA) has always encouraged the Government and stakeholders to facilitate free homecoming so that students and the public can go home to their hometowns.
One of the state-owned companies that often collaborates with ISBA JAYA in implementing free homecoming, namely PT Timah Tbk.
MIND ID Mining Industry holding members have consistently in recent years held free homecoming for students and the community. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, this program was temporarily suspended. At the Moment of Eid al-Fitr 1444 Hijriah, PT Timah Tbk again held a free homecoming with the Ministry of BUMN in an activity entitled 'Homecoming Dinanti, Homecoming Homecoming'.
ISBA Jaya 2003 Chairperson Rendy Kurniawan recounted earlier that ISBA collaborated with the Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung to organize a free homecoming so that it could help people who want to return to Bangka.
The government, he said, is partnering with various stakeholders to help facilitate this homecoming together.
Rendy said that the transportation back and forth used to be used as sea vessels of various types such as Pelni, and private boats.
"ISBA Jaya used to have an initiative on how to get these Bangka people to go home together, finally we built coordination with the government and various stakeholders so that this could be done," said Rendy.
Homecoming together, said Rendy, not only helps to reduce the cost of going home but also instills communal values.
"There is a communal value when we go home together, for example the committee that prepares it must coordinate and meet with various other regions to meet each other and new togetherness emerges. We also collaborate with various parties. The Provincial Government prepares homecoming facilities, later the Regional Government will also be involved by preparing buses to pick up travelers to the Regency/City," said Rendy.
According to him, going home together increases the euphoria of celebrating Eid al-Fitr in his hometown, but during the trip, you will also meet faraway people and help and look after each other.
He appreciated PT Timah Tbk's commitment, which until now still supports the free homecoming program for students and the community.
"I see that PT Timah Tbk's free homecoming program is very helpful because maybe there are our relatives who can't go home due to financial constraints. Moreover, PT Timah Tbk has repeatedly held this free homecoming program. This is one form of PT Timah Tbk's important role which is felt directly by the people of Babylon," he said.
In the same vein, the Head of ISBA Palembang 2010-2011 Bambang Ari Satria said, with free homecoming we can knit togetherness because the homecoming moment is together with our own homecoming.
"In principle, we really appreciate what PT Timah Tbk is doing to help the community and students who want to return to their hometowns to gather at the moment of Eid al-Fitr. Because this homecoming is able to knit togetherness. PT Timah Tbk facilitates a place to knit this togetherness in a free homecoming," said Bambang.
In addition, said Bambang, PT Timah Tbk is the main actor in strengthening collaboration and synergy between actors. This is because PT Timah Tbkk collaborates with various parties such as ISBA and others.
"The free homecoming with PT Timah Tbk is not only this year but has been done many times. In the past, in 2011 we did homecoming for free through Barindo but it is possible that PT Timah Tbk will help too. What PT Timah Tbk is doing is sustainable and consistent. PT Timah Tbk can be used as a role model to be a pioneer because it is done consistently," he said.
Furthermore, he said the homecoming program could also help the community and students who want to go home without considering costs.
Not only that, but this free homecoming also supports the Government's policy to reduce congestion during homecoming because this year it is predicted to increase.
In 2023, PT Timah Tbk facilitated 1,000 people and students who wanted to go home to Bangka Island, Belitung Island, and Karimun Island.
The homecoming program was also enthusiastically welcomed by students and the public, this was conveyed by the Head of ISBA JAYA, Duta Darma Putra.
"There was quite a lot of enthusiasm, some had not been able to go home for a long time but finally they were able to go home because there was a free homecoming. Thank you to PT Timah Tbk for facilitating this homecoming together," he said. (*)
