President's pesantren visit calls for importance of maintaining diversity

Cilacap, NU Online
President Joko Widodo reiterated the importance of maintaining national diversity here on Thursday.

During a visit to the Al Zihya Ukumaddin Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Kesugihan, Cilacap, Central Java, Widodo reminded the people on Indonesia's greatness.

"We have 17 thousand islands, 516 districts and cities, 34 provinces, 714 tribes, and more than 1.1 thousand local languages, showing that we are indeed blessed by God with diversity in terms of tribes, races, as well as religions that we have to be grateful for," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

He noted that this was the country's strength and potential for competition with other countries.

"Imagine other countries that may possibly only have four, five, or six tribes, but we have 714 tribes. In view of that, let us keep our sense of brotherhood during interaction with one another. Let us preserve the brotherhood among Muslims, as well as with other religious followers and the government," he reiterated.

Widodo revealed that he does not wish to see people insulting or cursing each other, adding that people must be aware of their brotherhood.

"I appeal to the people to maintain diversity, potentials, and strength, which have been destined by God. We must maintain them so that we will not be divided and frictions will not happen. They must never happen. Islam teaches us to live peacefully," he reminded people gathering at the school to meet the president. (Masdar)