President Jokowi Calls for Strengthened Religious, National Foundations
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) are expected to continue strengthening national and religious foundation to maintain national unity, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The President expressed his view that NU, which is Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organization, and PKB, a moderate Islamic political party, consistently adhere to the teachings of the late ulema and NU founder Hasyim Asyari and religious leaders who opine that religion and nationalism do not contradict each other, but support each other instead.
“I believe that PKB does and will always inherit that noble spirit and strengthen its national and religious foundation to realize baldatun thayyibatun wa rabbun ghafur (a country that everyone dreams to have),” the President said during the inauguration of the National Work Meeting and National Ulema Meeting of PKB, Thursday (08/04), at the State Palace in Jakarta.
The Head of the State also expressed optimism that the party will always participate in strengthening religious moderation.
On that occasion, the Head of State also thanked the ulema for their huge support and contribution to life of the people and the nation, including the pandemic management that the Government is currently doing.
Support of the ulema, the President said, is crucial to make all elements of the nation support and help each other, which will result in an extraordinary power to overcome all challenges the nation currently encounters, as well as future challenges that will be more complex.
“I would like to thank the ulema for their 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 spirit of fellowship, and to make diversity as a foundation of unity,” he said.
Furthermore, the President expressed hope that members of the PKB in legislative as well as central and regional executive agencies will continue to push for innovation and 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,” he said. (TGH/UN) (DH/EP)