President Jokowi: Hoaxes Dangerous for Nations Unity
President Jokowi welcomes participants of the Conference of West Java Ulemas and Leaders of Islamic Boarding School at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta (28/2). Photo by: Rahmat/PR.
Rumors, hoaxes, and slanders could divide the nation if they are not responded properly, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said.
“(Hoaxes, rumors and slanders) are dangerous for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI),” President Jokowi said in his remarks during the Conference of West Java Ulemas and Leaders of Islamic Boarding School at the State Palace, Jakarta (28/2).
The President also said that based on academic survey, more than nine million people believe in the hoax saying that the Government will ban prayer call (adhan) and that the Government will legalize same-sex marriages. He added that if the rumors and hoaxes are not clarified, the people tend to believe that the rumors are true.
On that occasion, President Jokowi pointed out other false rumors such as criminalization of ulemas, being a foreign agent, and a hoax saying that he is a member of now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). The President explained that the PKI was banned in 1965-1966, while he was born in 1961. That means he was four back then.
On that occasion, President Jokowi also said that Indonesia is a country with the world’s largest Muslim population and is blessed by diversity which is a sunnatullah, a Gods law.
He added that local, regional, or national elections are routine events in every five years, thus, different political choices should not generate conflict in communities.
President Jokowi also invited the Ulemas to maintain Islamic solidarity (Ukhuwah Islamiyah) and National Solidarity (Ukhuwah Wathaniyah).
Also present during the event were Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, and Coordinator of Special Staff to the President Teten Masduki. (RSF/RAH/ES)
Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana
