Basically, the message delivered at two different events, held on Sunday and Monday, was regarding how to behave ahead of the 2019 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections and how to defend the nation`s interests beyond those of the vested parties.
The first point of his message was related to the phenomenon of hate speeches, fake news, and slanderous statements that have more frequently occurred and proliferated on various social media platforms ahead of the regional and presidential elections.
As revealed in Vibrazi Juliswara`s study (2017), many social media users could not yet differentiate accurate information from hoaxes. As a result, disputes frequently occur and end in hatred, which can weaken the spirit of diversity among the community members.
Considering that the spread of hoaxes and slanders has become a serious challenge and threat to the nation`s unity in diversity, Jokowi reiterated his call for combating any form of hoaxes and slanders.
When speaking at the peak of the 2018 National Santri Day commemoration at Bandung`s Gasibu field on Sunday evening, he urged santri, or Islamic boarding school students, to not easily believe fake news and slander.
Instead, the santri and other community members should take part in preserving the unity in diversity. However, it does not mean that everybody should have one similar political preference in the 2019 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
Jokowi acknowledged the differences of political preferences, but stated that he expected the people to avoid making, publishing, or circulating slanderous statements and insulting one another.
Preserving the unity in diversity is not only relevant to the theme of the 2018 National Santri Day commemoration, "With Santri, Making Indonesia be A Peaceful Country," but also the diversity that reflects the gift from the Almighty God to Indonesia.
"Hence, preserving the national unity and brotherhood as well as living in peaceful co-existence for the sake of caring for our common house, called the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), are the biggest assets of this nation," Jokowi remarked.
He was quoted by Presidential Secretariat`s Deputy Head of Protocol, Press and Media Bey Machmudin as urging the santri to become pious Muslim nationalists as had always been exemplified by kyai, or Islamic teachers, and ulema or clerics.
The nation`s history has recorded the major roles of ulema, kyai, and santri in the struggle for the country`s independence and its maintenance; in preserving the state ideology of Pancasila; and in maintaining the NKRI.
History is also testament to the fact that they played a significant role in guiding the nation to the path of good deeds, truth, and progress, he remarked.
The second point of Jokowi`s message is related to placing the nation`s interests beyond those of the vested parties.
Speaking to journalists after briefing his national campaign team`s members in Bogor, West Java Province, on Monday evening, Jokowi warned them of not exercising political hoaxes during the campaign period of the 2019 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
In return, he asked his campaigners to prioritize a battle of ideas to educate the people. "Do not let our spokespersons or influencers exercise political hoaxes. Do not let this happen! I would like to insist one by one. Do not do that!"
Thus, Jokowi and his running mate Ma`ruf Amin wish to win the competition against Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno pair by emphasizing a battle of ideas and achievements based on track records in election campaigns.
As a result of this ideal approach and strategy, the people at large can be educated to make them smart and mature in exercising their political rights.
"A battle of ideas, track records, and achievements should be our emphasis. We need to bring our people towards that direction. Do not let our political life be flooded with political lies," he urged.
Jokowi`s message got positive feedback from the public. Rocky Gerung, former philosophy lecturer at the University of Indonesia (UI), has even encouraged those from the Jokowi camp to set a good example by starting to do so from themselves.
"Please, start it from yourself," Gerung twitted on his Twitter (https://twitter.com/rockygerung).
EDITED BY INE/H-YH
Reporter: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
