Vice President Emphasizes Harmony Is The Key To Foster Diversity

Pontianak, wapresri.go.id – Indonesia has a diversity of tribes, cultures, languages, and religions spread across the country. This condition causes Indonesia to have the potential to be vulnerable to fragmentation. For this reason, in caring for the diversity of the nation, one of the efforts that can be done is through maintaining harmony between nations.

“Yes, in general, we actually have a great latent conflict in Indonesia, because there are many religions. But we can control the differences between religions so that harmony occurs,” said Vice President (VP) K.H. Ma’ruf Amin in his press statement to the media crew, after attending the 2573rd Birthday Commemoration of the Great Prophet Kongzi at the Pontianak Convention Center, Jalan Sultan Abdurrahman Number 7-9 Akcaya, Pontianak City, Thursday (22/09/2022).

Furthermore, the VP emphasized that apart from the efforts of each individual, caring for diversity can also be done through the role of various religious assemblies that contribute to providing solutions in solving existing problems.

“Harmony can be done because of the existence of religious assemblies so that whenever there is a conflict, it can be anticipated,” said the VP.

So, he added, all religious people in Indonesia can carry out religious activities freely, in an orderly and responsible manner.

“We do have six religions that are recognized by the state and each of them can develop their religion, carry out their activities free from all any threats, added the VP.

On the same occasion, the VP also answered questions from the media crew regarding the status of the Covid-19 pandemic. He revealed that currently, the government has not changed the status from pandemic to endemic.

The VP said the government was still studying this dynamic condition.

“In handling [the Covid-19 pandemic], Indonesia is already appropriate, it is considered very good. But to state that it is now endemic, the government is still reviewing it,” explained the VP.

On the other hand, regarding the end of the term of service of the Governor of DKI Jakarta in October 2022, the VP said that the person in charge who will be elected is a person who understands Jakarta and will follow the election process according to applicable regulations.

“I think the process will be the same. Of course, the government will choose people who can understand Jakarta, people who have worked in Jakarta, and know exactly about Jakarta,” he concluded.

Also attending to accompany the VP in this press statement were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendi, West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji, General Chairperson of MATAKIN Budi S. Tanuwibowo, and Chairman of the Commemoration Committee for the Birth of the Great Prophet Kongzi 2573 Yo Nguan Cua. (NN/LHS – BPMI Setwapres)