President Jokowi: Gus Dur Might be Upset to Those Ignoring Indonesias Diversity
President Jokowi attends the 7th Anniversary of Gus Durs death (Haul), in Ciganjur, Jakarta, Friday (23/12) night. (Photo: BPMI/Kris)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo argued that the late K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid or known as Gus Dur always reminded that the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia belongs to the people of Indonesia, not belong to any groups nor individuals. Therefore, it must be administered by the Indonesian constitution not by others.
“I believe that Gus Dur must be upset at seeing any groups or people who underestimate the constitution; ignore Indonesias diversity; impose their will by violence, radicalism, and terrorism,” the President said when delivering his remarks at the 7th Anniversary of Gus Durs death anniversary (haul), in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, Friday (23/12) night.
According to the President, the Indonesian people as recently seen on social media and the real world have forgotten, been negligent, did not understand, or cannot be able to differenciate which one is criticising, insulting, and blasphemy. “We all have forgotten. Which one is criticism, hate speech, or treason. Many cannot differenciate those things today,” the President said.
If this continues to happen, the President further said, the energies that Indonesia has will be discharged to unnecessary things so that it makes us forget about our nations big strategies such as how to realize the peoples welfare, build a grand strategy of the country’s economy, as well as build a great strategy industry in the future to create jobs as many as possible for the people.
“If the late Gus Dur were still here, he would tell us that we are still like kindergarten children. I am sure Gus Dur will say so,” the President said.
In fact, the President went on to say, the Indonesian nation should be grateful when many other countries are unsteady looking for the rule of life, Indonesia has Pancasila (the states ideology). When other countries are in confusion looking for a guide to the state and nation, Indonesia has Pancasila.
“We should be able to build, move faster, and work together more quickly so that we become a country that won the competition. In order for us to be a sovereign, independent, and characterised nation,” the President said.
The President reminded that Gus Dur is a person who is always optimistic in looking at Indonesia ahead.” Gus Dur is a person who stays calm,” the President recalled.
When making a complicated decision, President Jokowi admits he remembered the words of Gus Dur, “gitu saja kok repot” (why sweat it?!).
“We now live in the age where easy things become complicated. It should be the other way around; complicated things become easy things,” the President said.
In the event attended by three candidates for Governor of Jakarta, President Jokowi has called out Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, and Anies Baswedan, and ordered that the three be in harmony in the competition. “Please stand up. We are all brothers and compatriots. It is the brotherhood that Gus Dur has taught us, the President said.
The 7th Gus Durs haul was attended by Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo, and Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama K.H. Said Aqil Siraj. (UN/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).
