President Jokowi Calls on Ulemas to Promote Synergy with Gov’t

President Jokowi receives a number of ulemas (Muslim Clerics) from West Kalimantan Province on Thursday (27/7), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (27/7) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, received 22 ulemas (Muslim Clerics) from West Kalimantan Province.

During the meeting, Chairman of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of West Kalimantan Province H.M. Basri Har said that the meeting was the manifestation of the President’s promise as made during his visit to West Kalimantan. “This is an act that we hoped for, namely the synergy between the Government and ulemas because the Prophet once said that in developing a good state, there must be a cooperation between the Government and ulemas,” Basri added.

Basri further said that the population of Muslims in West Kalimantan is 57 percent of the total population and there are also many Islamic Boarding Schools in the Province, but they face problems in facilities and infrastructures.

In the meantime, Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) of West Kalimantan Province Hildi Hamid said during the meeting, the President told the policies adopted by the Government, including policies regarding Freeport and the sinking of illegal ships.

Asked about the Government Regulation in lieu of Law on Mass Organizations, Hamid responded that the regulation shall take force generally and not for one certain religion. “The point is that we want the Government to always have synergy and cooperation with ulemas as well as to support each other because the State will face problems if there is misunderstanding between the Government and ulemas,” Basri added.

According to Basri, President Jokowi promised to allocate one low-cost apartment buildings (rusun) for Islamic Boarding School in West Kalimantan.

Religious harmony in that region is also very conducive, Basri added.

“Thus, our duties are to monitor any radical Islam movements and alhamdulillah there is none of them,” Basri concluded. (DNA/OJI/EN) (RA/EP/YM/Naster)