JAKARTA — In 1999, Dompet Dhuafa held an exhibition at the World Trade Center (WTC) Singapore. The beginning of Dompet Dhuafa’s activities in making exhibitions at the Singapore WTC was because Dompet Dhuafa personnel knew an Event Organizer (EO) owner from Singapore.
About two months before the activity took place, the owner of the EO came to Jakarta, Indonesia. There were talks and agreements between Dompet Dhuafa and the EO of the exhibition at WTC Singapore, namely Dompet Dhuafa will be given an exhibition booth and the opportunity to hold an event on the main stage, provided that Dompet Dhuafa brings Indonesian public figures who are known by the people in Singapore.
We were told by the EO, that what was held at WTC Singapore was an exhibition and bazaar (trade show) targeting Malay Singaporean visitors.
We were told by the EO, that what was held at WTC Singapore was an exhibition and bazaar (trade show) targeting Malay Singaporean visitors.
Long story short, at the promised time, I and Mas Yuli Pujihardi (deceased) came to WTC Singapore to exhibit at the booth provided by the Singapore EO. During the five days of the exhibition there, we socialized Dompet Dhuafa to the people of Singapore who visited the exhibition. We also invited people who came to the Dompet Dhuafa booth to donate to various Dompet Dhuafa social programs, especially helping victims of natural disasters in Indonesia. We did not expect that the Singaporean Malay community would be so generous. Some of them left donations to us.
On the last day, we invited Mbak Marissa Haque and Mas Ikang Fawzi to fill the event on the main stage of the exhibition. Ikang Fawzi, a singer, offered his voice by singing his hits, while Marissa Haque, a movie star, had a fan meeting with her Singaporean fans. When Mbak Marissa wanted to be invited to take a photo by her fans, Mbak Marissa appealed to her fans to donate first in the donation box that had been prepared by Dompet Dhuafa. Not bad to increase the donation coffers obtained by Dompet Dhuafa.
On the last day, we also invited Mbak Neno Warisman (then a singer and movie star). In addition to singing and meeting fans, Mbak Neno specially auctioned off her wedding dress to visitors to the exhibition. The proceeds from the auction were donated to Dompet Dhuafa. The donations collected by Dompet Dhuafa increased. Back in Indonesia, we used the donations from the people of Singapore to help people in need (dhuafa) in Indonesia.
After the exhibition at WTC Singapore, there were many other Dompet Dhuafa activities supported by Mbak Marissa Haque. She is very generous in helping social activities. Mbak Marissa is always happy to be involved in caring activities to help and empower the community carried out by Dompet Dhuafa. In fact, her involvement in helping social activities is not only done with Dompet Dhuafa, but also with other institutions.
On October 2, 2024, Mbak Marissa Haque was called by Sang Khaliq. May her kindness with Dompet Dhuafa and other institutions make it easier for her to be placed in the best place, namely His Heaven. Alfatihah for Mbak Marissa Grace Haque.
By: Ahmad Juwaini