President Jokowi Meets Ulemas to Strengthen Solidarity

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 7 Februari 2019
Category: News
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President Jokowi poses for group photo with Ulemas across Jakarta-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (7/2).  (Photo: PR/Fitri)

President Jokowi poses for group photo with Ulemas across Jakarta-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi, at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (7/2). (Photo: PR/Fitri)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (7/2) had a cordial meeting with Ulemas (Islamic clerics) across Greater Jakarta at the State Palace, Jakarta. He stated that the meeting aims to strengthen ukhuwah (solidarity) between Ulemas and umaro (leaders) and to discuss various public issues.

“God willing, inshaallah, the Ulemas always keep spreading good advice and religious teachings to the people, so Indonesia remains peaceful,” said President Jokowi.

Furthermore, the President explained about the current big issue, that is, the spreading of slanders and hoaxes circulating on social media.

“This happens in Indonesia as well as other countries as a result of the widely-used social media among people. In the past, people can only enjoy printed-media with edited contents. However, since the growing popularity of social media, everyone can post any news and opinions as they like, whether it is hoax or not, without editing process,” the President explained, adding that other world leaders are also complaining over similar issue.

According to the President, the most important thing to tackle the issue is to equip every individual with strong spirit of nationalism, good manners and religious values.

“Because hoaxes and slanders are inevitable,” the President added.

According to the President, another reason hoaxes and slanders flourish in Indonesia is because the country has many political agendas, such as regional and general elections.

In 2018 alone, President Jokowi continued, there were 171 regional elections and 101 regional elections in 2017. “This had given significant influence to the political situation in the country,” he added.

President Jokowi went on to say that Indonesia is currently still in the process into maturity in politics and democracy; thus, slanders, hoaxes and hate speeches are often disturbing the peace,” President Jokowi said.

Moreover, he explained that he also becomes hoaxes target, with one of them is he was once alleged as a member of Indonesian Communist Party – PKI (a long-banned ideology party in Indonesia).

Another hoax is the President was once accused as pro-foreign interests. In fact, his policies are against it, such as the Government allows state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina to manage the country’s natural resources in Mahakam oil block and Rokan oil block, which were previously operated by foreign companies.

Meanwhile, the President also raised the issue of gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI). After a long negotiation, the Indonesian Government, through state-owned mining holding company PT Inalum, officially holds majority ownership of PTFI with share divestment scheme.

“So, issue says that I am a pro-foreign country is completely hoax,” President Jokowi firmly stated. (DID/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: Muhardi
Proofread by: Mia Medyana

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