UGM held the Gebyar Ramadan Mardliyyah on Sunday (10/5) evening, which was broadcasted live through Youtube, Instagram, TVRI, and Swaragama FM. This online event was initiated by the Committee of Ramadan Mardliyyah Campus Mosque in order to welcome the Nuzulul Quran night as well as the soft launching of the Mardliyyah Campus Mosque.
Several national figures were invited to fill in the talks at this event. The talks were divided into four sessions with each different theme. One of the sessions carries the theme “Iqro: Reading the Dynamics of Times from Diverse Perspectives” presenting Erick Thohir (Minister of BUMN RI / Entrepreneur), Alissa Wahid (National Coordinator of the Gusdurian Network / Activist), Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M. Eng., D. Eng., ASEAN IPU. Eng. (UGM Chancellor), Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M.Soc.Sc. (Minister of State Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia).
During the event, Pratikno began the conversation by saying that society began to obtain a lot of knowledge through the Covid-19 pandemic. The swift flow of information caused that situation.
However, Pratikno also noticed that not all of the information was in accordance with facts or hoax. “A lot of information steals the attention of the public, whether it is true or false. Society needs to filter the news. We can say that society needs to be critical thinking,” he said.
This statement was agreed upon by Alissa. According to him, critical thinking is essential to sort out information. Then, he said that the first revelation revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, Iqra, which means read it so that people will wholly understand.
“Reading the dynamics of the times through literature is vital to adjust to the context of the situation they are facing. As in religion, the main thing is to glorify God and build prosperity on earth. Regarding the method, the way we practice worship now is adjusted to the procedures of the era development,” he explained.
Furthermore, Alissa also hopes that people will also need to change their behavior and beliefs if they want to succeed in this Covid-19 pandemic response. Even though there will be vaccines and policies from the government, the act will not change, so it is useless.
Therefore, Alissa suggested to the government that the focus now is not only on innovation for the handling of Covid-19. She hoped the government would also intensify education from their policies.
“Suggestions such as social distancing, work from home, and the prohibition of going home, the government needs to make massive and decisive educational efforts to the community. The mindset of the people must be changed to stop the spread of this pandemic. Now, it depends on the government to execute the rest,” she said.
Erick claimed to agree with what was said by Alissa. He said that the government had now made various efforts to save this nation. However, the government still maintains that the community does not experience panic in carrying out its programs and activities. Currently, the government is trying to hook several institutions, including universities, to help the success of its programs.
“Two things that need to be instilled in dealing with this pandemic are clean and disciplined. They need to think cleanly in accepting every piece of information they get. Besides, they also need discipline in behavior. We have given directions as to what to do; it is just how they obey them,” Erick said.
Finally, Panut stated that UGM had directed its academics, both through education and taking to the field during this pandemic. This condition was realized one of them by making Covid-19 pocketbooks available in various languages and has now been distributed to multiple regions.
“We are ready to enliven public information with positive and beneficial things. We will always be open if the government wants to cooperate in this Covid-19 mitigation effort. Thus, this pandemic will soon be over,” Panut concluded.
Aara packed with fundraising through Kitabisa.com also presented Ismail Fajrie Alatas (professor of Islamic studies at New York University, USA), Ust Yusuf Mansur, Wirda Mansur, Noe Letto (musician and activist), Ahmad Fuadi (novelist Negeri Lima Menara ). There are also Ghufron Mustaqim (sociopreneur, Co-founder of Evermos, Co-founder of Kajianmu), Sulthan Farras (Chairman of UGM BEM KM), Alfatih Timur (sociopreneur, founder of Kitabisa.com) and Sharla Martiza.
Author: Hakam
Photo: Firsto
Translator: Natasa A