Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of Pagar Nusa’s Central Leadership for the 2023-2028 Term of Office, at Jala Krida Soccer Field, Bumimoro, Surabaya City, East Java Province, October 22, 2023

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Alhamdulillahi robbil alamin, washolatu wassalamu ‘ala asrofil ambiya’i wal mursalin, sayyidina wa habibina wa syafiina wa maulana Muhammadin, wa‘ala alihi wasohbihi ajma’in. Amma ba’du. [This is an opening of speech in Islamic fashion]

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), all Chiefs of Staff of the Forces present; Air Force Chief of Staff, Army Chief of Staff, Navy Chief of Staff;

Distinguished Chairperson of Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) along with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Supreme Leader (Rais Aam Syuriah) and also NU Secretary (Khatib Aam);

Distinguished Governor of East Java Province and Deputy Mayor of Surabaya;

Distinguished General Chairperson of NU’s martial arts organization Pagar Nusa Mr. Gus Nabil Harun and all the management of Pagar Nusa;

Distinguished Islamic clerics (kyai) and scholars, kyai’s wife (Nyai), all warriors of Pagar Nusa whom I respect and I am proud of;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the administration of Ijazah Kubro (the grand gathering in which the great religious leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama bestow their blessings and endorsement upon Pagar Nusa’s warriors and the general public interested in participating in Pagar Nusa’s activities) and the inauguration of the Pagar Nusa’s Central Leadership for the 2023-2028 term of office.

This morning event is coinciding with the commemoration of Santri (Islamic seminary student) Day, which we interpret as passing on the spirit of Santri Day to Pagar Nusa’s big family. Because on October 22, 1945, an important historical episode occurred, in which Rais Akbar, the PBNU’s top administrator, issued a call for jihad to defend our independence. And, he said that fighting against invaders is fardu ‘ain (obligatory) and those who pass away or get killed when fighting against an enemy are martyrs. This fatwa (edict) is extraordinary and then we commemorate it as Santri Day.

The aim of Santri Day is very noble, namely to remember, commemorate, and emulate the struggle of the santris in upholding Indonesia’s independence. Therefore, I hope that Pagar Nusa’s new management will develop programs that fortify Indonesian archipelago and protect it from various threats that may damage our national character and identity.

I urge all of us to always sharpen and increase our sense of love and pride for our nation by safeguarding our national sovereignty, preserving and developing Indonesia’s rich culture. I urge all of us to prevent fights between martial arts schools like what we often read about or hear about. But I’m sure that none of Pagar Nusa’s members behaves like that. Instead, they always strive to care for and reconcile each other.

Agree?

We must reconcile each other because we are all inseparable brothers and sisters. We all belong to one nation and one country. Therefore, we must always keep our unity strong so that we will become stronger and more resilient to go through the world’s obstacles and challenges which are currently changing very quickly.

Moreover, I also urge all of us to safeguard the 2024 simultaneous general elections together, ensure that the elections will run smoothly and well, and ensure the sustainability of the development that we have carried out so far. We must monitor and safeguard the 2024 elections.

Let’s reject all kinds of slanders, okay?

Let’s reject hoaxes, okay?

Let’s keep away from demeaning each other and vilifying each other, okay?

And let’s prevent every effort to divide our nation, okay?

We may have different choices because having different choices is normal, but don’t let it tear our unity apart. Elections are an arena for the contestation of ideas and thoughts, an arena for offering ideas, innovations, and solutions which can serve as capital in making leaps of progress, not slandering each other. So please understand, if we find that our common people still slander or speak ill of each other, it is Pagar Nusa’s job to reconcile them and cool things down.

Finally, I would like to wish good luck to General Chairperson and all ranks of Pagar Nusa’s Central Leadership for the 2023-2028 term of office.

Go forward for Indonesia’s advancement.

Thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(TM/MUR)