President Jokowi: Do Not Let Politics Divide Us

President Jokowi grants the request of people who want to take pictures with him, at Ewangga Sports Center, Kuningan Regency, West Java, on Friday (25/5). (Photo by: Jay/Public Relations).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reminded that Indonesia is a large country with a population of 263 million people, larger than Singapore with a population of 5 million people and Malaysia 24 million people.

“It’s a big country and the 263 million people live across 17,000 islands,” President Jokowi said when delivering his remarks at Land Certificates Distribution, at Ewangga Sports Center (GOR), Kuningan Regency, West Java, on Friday (25/5).

The President added that Indonesia is blessed with plurality, and diversity. “We have 714 ethnic groups compared to Singapore with only 4 ethnic groups,” he said.

Furthermore, Jokowi asked the people to avoid inter-ethnic group and interreligious friction just because regional or presidential election. “Our festival of democracy only occurs once in five years, do not let it divide us,” President Jokowi said and asked people not to be provoked by politicians.

“I invite all people to build our solidarity, Islamic solidarity and national solidarity because we are all brothers and sisters of the nation,” Jokowi said.

The President encouraged people to vote for the best candidates either in regional or presidential election. However, they must reconcile after the election, because quarreling between each other will harm our nation.

The President explained that the issue of slander often appears during regional or presidential election. He experienced it firsthand in the previous presidential election; he was vilified as a member of Indonesia Communist Party (PKI).

“I did not say anything because it’s illogical. PKI was disbanded in 1965 and I was born in 1961,” the President said.

However, Jokowi continued, many people believed it and there is also a picture of him lined up with DN Aidit, Chairman of the PKI, at the speech in 1955.

“I was not born yet, how can I get there?” President Jokowi concluded while expressing his disappointment against slander in politics.

Also attending the event were Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency Sofyan Djalil, and member of Presidential Advisory Board (Wantimpres) Agum Gumelar. (FID/JAY/ES) (GWH/MMB/Naster)