With Indonesia scheduled to hold the simultaneous regional head elections in June 2018, it is prone to the politicization of religious issues, money politics, black campaigns, or satire against other political opponents.
Hence, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has again reminded his countrymen to maintain harmony among citizens in this political year despite their different political choices.
During an event on Wednesday to hand over land certificates to the people of Hattu Village in Central Maluku District, Maluku Province, President Jokowi remarked that the elections of district and vice district heads, mayors, and governors and vice governors will be held in Indonesia, a pluralistic country, with diverse faiths, tribes, races, and cultures.
However, true inter-communal and inter-religious harmony must be maintained in the face of some challenges during the political year of 2018 and 2019.
The people of Indonesia must continue to maintain a collective consciousness that they have much in common despite belonging to different religions and ethnicities.
President Jokowi has called on the people to focus more on the similarities between fellow countrymen during the 2018 and 2019 political year rather than on societal differences.
"Elections are a democratic process held every five years. Do not sacrifice our brotherhood because of this (election)," the president noted.
Jokowi believes that settling disputes among citizens comes at a steep cost; hence, he has urged them to choose the best regional head and avoid friction during elections.
The president expressed hope that the regional head elections this year would not create rifts between neighbors and villages, as otherwise, the country will have to bear high social, political, and economic costs.
Indonesia is made up of over 17 thousand larger and smaller islands and known as a large nation, with different cultures, customs, beliefs, and ethnic languages.
However, these differences should not necessarily have to become a seed of disunity but instead serve as a common force in the 2018 political year to make Indonesia an increasingly developed country.
In light of this, President has called on all fellow countrymen to jointly manage differences and ethnic and cultural diversities in this political year to make Indonesia a major and advanced force.
According to the president, one way to manage the differences is to bring the focus back to the politics of nationalism, with complete awareness in a bid to realize a harmonious and respectful nation.
President Jokowi noted that regardless of the differences, Indonesians must realize that they are all brothers of one country.
"We must realize that all of us in this Republic are brothers of one nation and one country although we have various tribes, races, cultures, and religions," the president asserted.
Hence, the head of state has invited all countrymen to stand united to maintain the independence that has been achieved with great difficulty and be determined to realize an advanced and progressive Indonesia.
Speaking of the simultaneous regional elections this year, the president believes that people share the same viewpoint to create a harmonious national life amid all differences, including political ones.
With political maturity, the president is optimistic that while going through the stages of the regional elections, all people would jointly maintain the nation`s unity.
Nonetheless, regional elections are expected to be held in a civilized manner across the country without justifying any means for the sake of the candidates of certain regional heads.
Hence, political choices may be different in 2018, but the Red and White must remain the same without change.
To this end, the candidates for regional heads and deputy regional heads must be able to face the black campaigns of opposing parties with a smile.
Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Megawaati Soekarnoputri stated that power acquired through uncivilized ways by justifying any means will not last long.
The former president of Indonesia opined that the people had been wise enough to identify candidates for regional heads and deputy regional heads who will campaign to either divide or unite.
"After being elected, the regional heads and deputy regional heads should not use their power to engage in corrupt practices and loot the people," Soekarnoputri asserted.....
In the meantime, Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan has also remarked that in order to maintain the Red and White and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, all circles should continue to promote unity despite having different political choices.
Hasan has expressed confidence that the Indonesian democracy will continue to be better, as political consciousness of society develops.
According to him, the simultaneous regional elections in 2015 and 2017 concurrently proved that the Indonesian people are becoming more mature in terms of democracy, and religious tolerance in the country has also become an example for the world.
The MPR chairman noted that the public must be educated to not provoke others but use their rationales to vote for who they believe is the best leader.
Further, he called on the people during the political year, especially in the simultaneous regional head elections, to avoid debt of honor and money politics.
(O001/INE/O001)
EDITED BY INE
(T.O001/A/KR-BSR/O001)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
