HALOSUMUT.COM, LABUSEL – The atmosphere at the football field of Desa Perkebunan Teluk Panji, Kampung Rakyat District, became a lively center of Islamic propagation.
Thousands of local residents enthusiastically crowded the venue to witness the official closing ceremony of the 17th Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran (MTQ) and Qasidah Art Festival (FSQ) at the Labuhanbatu Selatan (Labusel) Regency level.
The grand religious event, which had been running dynamically since May 20, 2026, was officially closed by the Regent of Labuhanbatu Selatan, Fery Sahputra Simatupang, S.H. The presence of the regional leader accompanied by various elements of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) added to the solemnity and prestige of the closing night of this annual Islamic festival.
In his official speech, Regent Fery Sahputra Simatupang highly praised the extraordinary enthusiasm shown by the community who continuously crowded the venue from the opening day until the closing night.
According to him, this high level of public attendance serves as strong evidence that the spirit of Islamic propagation, community unity, and the deep love for the Al-Quran continue to grow rapidly and take deep root within the hearts of the people across Labuhanbatu Selatan.
The Regent also expressed his highest appreciation to the organizing committee, the board of judges, the participants, and all elements of society who worked together to ensure the success of this event.
He emphasized that the MTQ and FSQ are not merely competitive arenas, but more importantly, they serve as highly strategic platforms to continuously strengthen Islamic character and solidify the bonds of Ukhuwah Islamiyah (Islamic brotherhood) among citizens.
The closing ceremony reached its peak with the official announcement of the winners from various competition branches. On this occasion, Regent Fery Sahputra Simatupang directly handed over the trophies and prizes to the outstanding participants who emerged as champions.
Furthermore, the local government also officially announced that Torgamba District has been designated as the next host for the upcoming 18th MTQ and FSQ event.
The successful execution of the 17th MTQ and FSQ this year marks a significant milestone in the Labuhanbatu Selatan Regency administration’s commitment to bureaucratic transparency. Under the direct instructions of Regent Fery Sahputra Simatupang, the local government implemented a professionalized system utilizing an adjusted grant budget scheme through LASQI and LPTQ.
This new mechanism effectively resolved past administration challenges, ensuring that all cash prizes and awards were disbursed promptly to the winning participants during the closing ceremony.
Furthermore, the strict selection of the board of judges before the tournament commenced heavily paid off. The administration ensured that the evaluation process was fully transparent and free from any external intervention or conflict of interest.
This professional approach has significantly boosted the confidence of young Quranic reciters and qasidah performers throughout the region, setting a higher benchmark for future religious competitions in North Sumatra.
As the torch of the host is officially passed down to Torgamba District for the next annual event, the regional government plans to expand the event’s scale by integrating local MSMEs exhibition booths.
This future integration aims not only to preserve deep spiritual values and Islamic culture among the younger generation but also to drive regional economic growth by attracting visitors from neighboring regencies.
