President Jokowi Reminds All to Protect and Take Care of Each Other

President Jokowi delivers a remarks at the Opening of the 17th Congress of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama, at Hajj Dormitory, Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, on Thursday (24/11) (Picture: Public Relations Office/Jay)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that there are a lot of people who say that currently Jakarta’s atmosphere is hot. In fact, the President said, it is not hot; just warm.

“Moreover, the ladies from Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama are in Jakarta. Everything is cool down, Alhamdulillah,” the President said when delivering his remarks at the Opening of the 17^th Congress of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama, at Function Building 2, Hajj Dormitory, Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, on Thursday (24/11) morning.

The President reminded that Jakarta is the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, the President asked all to take care of Jakarta together. “I, who never ride a horse before, spared my time to ride a horse to cool downthe atmosphere of Jakarta,” the President said as if reminded his action riding a horse when visiting the General Chairman of Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto at his house, last October.

Allah’s Grace

On that occasion, President Jokowi reminded that Indonesia is a plural and diverse nation. The President mentioned that there are 646 local languages, 1,128 tribes, and the people have diverse skins, hairs, eyes, etc.

According to the President, when he visits small islands or comes to a regency/city, he can feel that we are indeed diverse. “There are so much diversity even in one province. In North Sumatra, after the greetings Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, there are additional greetings. In Nias, it is ya haou. At North, in Toba, Mandailing, and Simalungi, it is horas. In Karo, it is majua-jua, while in Parapat, it is jua-jua,” the President explained while adding that it is only in one province. “We can imagine, we have 34 provinces, 516 regencies and cities. We are so diverse,” the President added.

The President admitted that he is often reminded by Ibu Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid about diversity as well plurality. “When I meet her, she always reminds me. This is Allah’s grace for us that we have to cherish and take care of,” the President said.

Thus, the President reminded and invited all: the majority should protect the minority and the minority should respect the majority. “To protect, take care of, and respect each other. These are the values of Indonesia. We often forget about it,” the President said.

Also attending the Opening of the Congress were, among others, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and General Chairman of PBNU Said Aqil Siraj. (FID/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)