We Should Preserve Our Diversity, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi visits Al Asy’ariyyah Islamic Boarding School, Kalibeber, Mojotengah, Wonosobo, Central Java, on Friday (16/6)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, on Friday (16/6), perforrned Tarawih Prayer at Al Asy’ariyyah Islamic Boarding School, Kalibeber, Mojotengah, Wonosobo, Central Java.

In his remarks, President Jokowi appreciated the hospitality of the family of Al Asy’ariyyah Islamic Boarding School who warmly greeted the President. “I thank you so much for giving us and the entourage a very friendly welcome when we entered the Boarding School,” President Jokowi said.

On that occasion, the President reminded all that Indonesia is a big country that consists of 17,000 islands, 516 cities and regencies, 34 provinces, 714 ethnics, and more than 1,100 local languages. “It is Allah’s gift for Indonesia. The diversity is Allah’s destiny, Allah’s rule for Indonesia,” the President added.

Therefore, President Jokowi called on people to maintain our brotherhood, unity, and integrity of the nation.

President Jokowi also reminded all people not to blame, slander, and reproach other on social media. “I would like to remind all about our ukhuwah wathoniyah (brotherhood between fellow countrymen). We are indeed different. There are many different religions in Indonesia, including Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. We are different. It is Allah’s rule, Allah’s destiny for Indonesia,” the President firmly said.

President Jokowi stated that Indonesia is a very big country. It is based on his experience flying from Aceh to Jayapura, that took 9.5 hours. The President also learned much about the diversity of local languages when he visited Banyumas. “I learned so much. Kepriwe kabare (how are you in Banyumasan), I just learned that words. I apologize if I said it wrong because I just learned,” President Jokowi said.

The diversity of local languages is also found when the President visited North Sumatra Province. There are several different version for word ‘halo’ in North Sumatra, such as Horas (Batak), Mejuah-juah (Batak Karo), Njuah-juah (Batak Pakpak), and Yaahowu (Nias).

“This is our diversity, Allah’s rule, Allah’s destiny for Indonesia that must be preserved,” the President concluded.

After delivering a remarks, President Jokowi inked word “ba” as in Bismillah of Al Fatihah, as starting the making of the 7^th  big Al-Quran that is projected to take 2 years and 40 days to complete.

Accompanying President Jokowi in that working visit were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo, Regent of Wonosobo, Commander of Diponegoro Territorial Military, and Chief of Regional Police of Central Java.(RMI/FID/ES) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)