Opening Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Inauguration of the National Work Meeting and National Ulema Meeting of the National Awakening Party (PKB) on 8 April 2021 at the State Palace in Special Capital Region of Jakarta

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Distinguished leaders of state institutions,

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,

Distinguished Consultative Council Chair of Central Management Board of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Dimyati Rois,

Distinguished Chair of Central Management Board of the PKB Gus Ami, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar,

Distinguished General Secretary of Central Management Board of the PKB Hasanuddin Wahid and all members of Central Management Board of PKB,

Distinguished Ulema Manarul Hidayat, Marzuki Mustamar, Kafabihi Mahrus, Ubaidillah Shodaqoh, Alamudin Rais, Saepulloh Maksum, Habib Hasan, Habib Bilal, Gus Muwafiq, Subhan Ma’mun, Yusuf Chudlori, and others whom I cannot name one by one,

Distinguished Ulema, participants of the National Work Meeting who are present in person and virtually from across Indonesia, Vice Chair of Central Management Board of the PKB, Chairs of regional management boards of the PKB across Indonesia,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On this auspicious occasion, first and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to religious leaders and ulema for all of your preaching and support for the Government’s efforts in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Your support is vital to encourage all elements of the nation support and help each other, that will generate a tremendous power to surmount all challenges the nation currently encounters, as well as future challenges that will be more complicated.

Let me also thank the ulema for your great contribution to maintain unity, to maintain harmony among the people, to maintain national integration, to tend to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, to spread tolerance, to spread the spirit of fellowship, and to make diversity as a foundation of unity.

Distinguished religious leaders,

Distinguished Chair,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are currently working hard to manage the pandemic and we are shocked by a violent act, namely terrorism. The act that is born out of a wrong perspective, a wrong ideology, that is obviously against the values of religion and is certainly a huge crime against humanity that threatens harmony in life of the people and the state.

As a party that ahlussunnah wal jamaah (adheres to Muhammad’s teachings), I am confident that the PKB will not stop seeding values of moderation, tasawuth (moderation), and balance, and will continue spreading religious moderation, upholding tolerance and social harmony so there is no more radicalism or terrorism in our beloved country Indonesia.

The Government remains committed to implementing religious moderation in social life. Tolerance is a crucial element in religious moderation. Exclusivity and a close mind are contrary to Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Indonesia’s motto meaning unity in diversity). In this case, the Government takes a firm stand. (It) will not compromise on acts of intolerance that destroy life of the people and the state.

Distinguished ulema,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the outset, it has been abundantly clear that the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the PKB consistently adhere to the teachings of Hasyim Asy’ari and religious leaders that religion and nationalism do not contradict each other. Instead, they support each other. I believe that the PKB does and will always inherit that noble spirit and strengthen its national religious foundation to realize baldatun thayyibatun wa rabbun ghafur (a country that everyone dreams to have).

It is also my hope that all members of PKB in legislative, as well as central and regional executive agencies will continue to push for innovation, to utilize science and technology in developing good and accountable governance to further improve the people’s welfare. It will be a part of our joint effort to bring the biggest benefit to the people, to the nation and state of Indonesia, and to humanity.

That concludes my speech in this auspicious occasion.

By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby inaugurate the National Work Meeting and National Ulema Meeting of the National Awakening Party.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/MEP)