RRI.CO.ID, Melaka -Jambi Mayor Maulana attended the 16th International Majlis Tilawah Al-Qur’an (Majlis Tilawah Al-Qur’an Antara Bangsa) at Masjid As-Salamin, Melaka, Malaysia on Friday, March 6, 2026, strengthening the cultural and religious bonds of the Malay world.

Hosted by the Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI) in collaboration with the Melaka Islamic Religious Council, the event serves as a strategic platform for regional diplomacy among Malay-majority nations.

Mayor Maulana participated in the forum to reinforce the shared Islamic and Malay values that define the identity of the region. The Mayor's involvement highlights Jambi’s active role in the DMDI, following his 2025 recognition for promoting Malay-Islamic traditions.

In a significant move for regional tourism and diplomacy, Maulana announced that Jambi City is slated to host the International Majlis Tilawah Al-Qur’an next year.

“This friendship is very important because, God willing, next year Jambi City will be the host. This is an opportunity to strengthen the role of Malay-Islam while introducing the regional potential,” Maulana said, as quoted by infopublik.id on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Hosting the event is expected to elevate Jambi's international profile and promote its "Bahagia Berbudaya" (Happy in Culture) priority program.

Leveraging the insights gained from the Melaka forum, the Jambi City Administration is accelerating the development of Jambi Kota Seberang (the Seberang district) as a premier religious and cultural tourism destination. The plan focuses on the Pelayangan and Danau Teluk districts, which are recognized as the heart of Jambi's Malay heritage.

“In the Seberang area of Jambi City, we will develop religious-based tourism through the Seberang Batik Village by highlighting Malay and Islamic values,” Maulana explained.

The Jambi City Administration is prioritizing the development of Jambi Kota Seberang to preserve assets by actively protecting historical sites and local Malay-Islamic traditions from the pressures of modernization. This initiative is strategically designed to boost the economy and increase Regional Original Revenue (PAD) by attracting a steady stream of international religious tourists to the area.

Furthermore, the plan seeks to integrate identity by seamlessly blending local ethnic values with modern tourism infrastructure, ensuring that the city's heritage remains the foundation of its future growth.

The Mayor emphasized that international forums are essential for opening collaborative doors. By positioning Jambi as a hub for Malay-Islamic values, the city hopes to attract visitors interested in "slow travel," heritage, and spiritual education.

“Through this program, we want to preserve cultural and historical assets while developing tourism based on local customary and ethnic values,” Maulana added.

The push for religious-based tourism is designed to foster a diverse yet united community identity, firmly rooted in the tradition of the Malay world. ***