"I have visited 400 districts/cities in 34 provinces of this country," Jokowi stated, while attending the Syekh Abdul Qodir Jaelani Memorial Haul and Silaturahmi (get-together) along withleaders of the Darul `Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Peterongan, Jombang, East Java, on Tuesday.
From his trip to hundreds of places, the president claimed to have seen so many differences in Indonesian people in languages, customs, traditions, religion, ethnicity, and others.
According to him, differences have become God`s gift to the Indonesian people.
"On this good occasion, let us protect unity, ukhuwah (friengship), brotherhood, harmony between tribes, religions, customs, traditions, and different ones," he remarked.
He insisted that differences have become the laws of Allah (God) given to the Indonesian people.
Jokowi regretted that the democracy parties have often divided the nation because of different choices.
Both the local election and the presidential election are held every five years.
"Let not the election, which is held every five years, affect our brotherhood," he added.
In front of the congregation, the kyiai (religious preachers and scholar), ulama (Ulemas), and santris (Islamic students), the president recounted the experiences flying from Aceh to Wamena in 9 hours 15 minutes by plane.
"It was far away, like flying from London to Istanbul through seven countries, meaning that our country is a huge country. Therefore, I invite everyone to maintain our unity and harmony," he revealed.
On the occasion, he invited two people to go forward and have a dialogue and attend a short quiz.
This time, the president did not distribute bicycles because of KPU`s ban; instead, the two were given the opportunity to take pictures with the president.
Also accompanying the president were East Java Governor Soekarwo, Deputy Speaker of the MPR Muhaimin Iskandar, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Head of Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono, Military Secretary President Marsda TNI Trisno Hendradi, Special Staff President Johan Budi, and Deputy Commander of Paspampres Marsma TNI Deny Muis.
Reporting by Hanni Sofia, Eliswan Azly
Editing by Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Yosep Hariyadi
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
