NEW CALEDONIA — Continuing his journey on the first day of living in Noumea, New Caledonia, with the aim of da’wah, Ustaz Luqman Hakim as Dai Ambassador Dompet Dhuafa again met with Indonesian Citizens (WNI) who settled there.
Previously, Ustaz Luqman Hakim met and had a casual conversation with Sukardi, an Indonesian citizen from Pekalongan, Central Java. He has lived in New Caledonia for 42 years and survives by selling vegetables and fruits.
This time, Ustaz Luqman Hakim met a middle-aged woman who is also an Indonesian citizen. She is Saminem, a shop owner in Noumea from Muntilan, Central Java.
Just like Sukardi, Saminem has also lived and stayed in New Caledonia for 42 years. She also makes a living by trading. But unlike Sukardi, Saminem sells various food needs, beverages, and typical Indonesian clothings.
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Saminem’s store was given a name that feels very close and distinctive to Indonesia, namely Borobudur Stone Fish. Not all by herself, Saminem runs the store together with her younger sibling named Aguswati.
“Mrs. Saminem from Muntilan, Central Java, has been in Noumea, New Caledonia for 42 years. The owner of Indonesian Shop, Borobudur Stone Fish,” explained Ustaz Luqman Hakim in his note for Dompet Dhuafa.
From the beginning, Saminem lived in Noumea with her husband. However, her husband passed away a few years ago, so now she is struggling by herself to live in that former French colony country.
“Mrs. Saminem remained active in selling various Indonesian-style foods, beverages, and clothing needs, even though her husband had passed away several years ago,” wrote Ustaz Luqman Hakim.
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In the midst of her business in trading, Alhamdulillah Saminem still took the time to participate in Ramadan activities held at the Indonesian Consulate General in Noumea with Dompet Dhuafa.
The series of Ramadan activities include joint prayers followed by tarawih prayer and tausiah (Islamic lecture) in the auditorium of Indonesian Consulate General.
About New Caledonia
The country of New Caledonia itself is precisely located in the northeast of Australia and north of New Zealand. This country is included in the territory of France with a special status, namely sui generis. Like Suriname, New Caledonia is also inhabited by some Javanese.
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To get to New Caledonia from Soekarno Hatta Airport Indonesia, Ustaz Luqman Hakim needed at least 12 hours. Boarding with Qantas airline, this one of Dai Ambassadors of Dompet Dhuafa 2023 flew to Sydney Airport, Australia, for transit. Subsequently, he again flew to New Caledonia.
The flight to Sydney takes 7 hours, followed by a 2-hour transit. It ends with a flight from Sydney to New Caledonia with a travel time of 3 hours. (Dompet Dhuafa/Ustaz Luqman Hakim/Ronna)