Early Syawal, which it happened to be at late September, muslims usually seeing – as they called Silaturrahmi – families, relatives, friends and others. After Ramadhan, this priceless moments they used to forgive each other, shaking hands, embrace bodies, accepting the way we are. Reunite in harmony.
Somewhere in government office of DKI Jakarta province – the governor – also have the ritual. Many as followed by the higher rank officer from ministry cabinet who have open house with collegues, partners, and staffs. He made it relatively different by inviting all class of citizens. The city council, where the ceremony held, full with mass of crowds, majority they who live below poverty line. They have a chance to meet and see their governor himself directly. Governor accepted them as his guess and treated them with manners and polite.
Behind the scene, the committee prepared for distributing of gifts of primary household needs. For those who live poor, this cause even more attracted than just shaking hands. They needed the gifts. They wanted them. They came from many places, some even came from out of Jakarta just to grab a pack. Indeed, it was the abundant of mass did overwhelmed the authority officer. They were out numbered. Soon, they’ve know more to happen when suddenly tragedy happened.
Eager beaver poors were impatient. They waited for hours. They dried up under hot sun. Their sweat excited them to move forwards, push more. No line of queue separate borders. They were collided. Crashed. Many fell to ground, many injured, some passed out, and less in critical condition. The chaos lasted for hours, before finally the authority did manage and handle the situation.
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We were shocked when we read the news feed told about the chaos in city council when the governor’s officer giving gifts. Later, most of news station were airing and reporting the tragedy. They said it was all the governors mistake not fully prepared for the large amount of mass attended for gifts distribution. Another line said despite the virtue mind, it was all poorly executed – as reference the gifts for the poor wrongly mistaken. All the injured were taken to nearby state hospital. The governors, eventually, apologized.
Talk show host quite did the same, their guests clearly stated that uneffective way to distribute gifts in such ways. They were questioning the method, but none of them questioning the purpose. Many cursed, some ashamed, one or two were planning to sue the governor.
They took us back couple years ago when the same tragedy happened in East Java. At the city of Jember, a generous kind hajj distributed money and primary needs as shadaqah and zakat to people surrounding area. It ended the same, many people rushing and hustling each other for the gifts. They were even worst for taking victims, one innocent people died. Tragedy happened. It is now in a different city, a different time and a different occasion, the second time. Twice, in this case, is worst than once. Even worst than the first time.
Such tragedy should’ve remind us that we should not repeat for the same mistakes. Morely to the government as they are our role model. They could’ve been more wiser by not giving directly to people. They have the real example happened. Instead, we have some authorities that capable and fully responsible for distributing zakat, infaq and shadaqah to the hand of the needs. We have Baznas, Laznas, Rumah Zakat, Dompet Dhuafa, etc. with the range of national distribution. Deploying the concept of Right hand gives, left hand quiet and Giver is better than receiver.
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We are human, we made many mistakes. Our history tells us in the past as a reflection of what we are and what the future we will be. There should’ve been so many lesson learned for us. But, we are still the same person that make same mistakes. We never learn, do we?




