President Jokowi Calls for National Unity Ahead of Elections

President Jokowi attends opening ceremony of the 2023 National Gathering of Village Islamic Preachers of Parmusi at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Cianjur regency, West Java province, Tuesday (09/26). Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on members of the Indonesian Muslim Brotherhood (Parmusi) to support the measures to maintain national unity ahead of the upcoming general elections.

“The situation has started to escalate. Even though the escalation is normal during presidential elections or general elections, we must take anticipatory measures to prevent disharmony in our communities,” the President said in his remarks at the 2023 National Gathering of Village Islamic Preachers of Parmusi at Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Cianjur regency, West Java province, Tuesday (09/26).

According to him, Indonesia has diverse ethnic groups and once a conflict arises, it would be difficult to resolve.

The President also encouraged Parmusi members to help spreading messages to the public regarding the importance of maintaining peace, adding that different choices during elections are normal and there is no need to make a fuss about it.

He also said that the Indonesian people regularly carry out the democratic event every five years.

“Winning and losing in elections, in presidential elections, and in regional elections are normal,” the President said.

The President also invited Parmusi members to continue upholding the value of tolerance by strengthening the foundations of religious harmony to realize a united and advanced nation.

“Let us continue maintaining our harmony and tolerance as well as strengthening Islamic solidarity, national solidarity, and human solidarity so this nation can become a united nation, a developed nation, and a nation that is baldatun tayyibatun warabbun ghafur (a prosperous nation with God’s blessing),” the President remarked.  (FID/UN) (RI/EP)