Religious Leaders Asks President Jokowi to Clarify Hoaxes

President Jokowi welcomes Ulemas from Aceh at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/3). Photo by: Oji/PR

Religious leaders have asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to clarify rumors and hoaxes circulated on social media these days.

The request was made during three different meetings between the President and Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI), the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and Ulemas of Aceh at the State Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/3).

“(During the meetings) the President clarified several rumors, including the rumors saying that the President is a member of the defunct PKI (Indonesian Communist Party), a foreign agent and a person with anti-Islam tendency. The President said that all those rumors are false,” Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin told the journalists after the meetings.

Lukman went on to say that the religious leaders are ready to support the President in clarifying and combatting the rumors and hoaxes. President Jokowi, Lukman added, said that different political choices in the elections should not generate rumors and slanders, and maintaining unity of the nation is more important than any political interests.

“(Rumors and Slanders) will affect not only political candidates but also the unity of the nation,” Lukman quoted President Jokowi. (RSF/OJI/ES)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Ersan Pamungkas