Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Vice presidential candidate Ma`ruf Amin invited kyai (Islamic teachers) and ulemas (clerics) to maintain the national unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia from various challenges and threats.

"Indonesia has often faced challenges and efforts to replace the state ideology Pancasila despite the fact that it has actually been proven to unite the nation within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," said Ma`ruf Amin said here on Sunday, Jan 20.

Speaking before the clerics and scholars of Bandung Raya in a gathering held at the Riyadhul Huda Islamic Boarding School, in Ngamprah District, West Bandung District, he said there has been an ideological war, even though the founders of the nation have agreed that the ideology of the Indonesian state is Pancasila.

"This has become the agreement of all the founders of the nation, so if anyone wants to change the ideology but not according to the agreement, it will be rejected," he said.

On this occasion, Ma`ruf Amin, reminded the kyais and ulemas of continuing to become the loyalists of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia in accordance with the agreement of the founding fathers of the nation.

Ma`ruf Amin, who arrived at Riyadhul Huda Islamic Boarding School at around 09:00 a.m., was greeted by santri (students) who marched from the inner gate to the courtyard of the head of the Islamic boarding school, while praying.

Kiai Ma`ruf and his entourage passed the line of the santri to the meeting room, next to the house of the boarding school.

Present at the gathering were Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission VIII Ace Hasan Syadzilly, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)-West Bandung District Chapter KH Muhammad Ridwan, and Mayor of Cirebon Nasrudin Azis.

In his speech, KH Muhammad Ridwan said that the clerics and ulemas in Bandung Raya were honored to receive a visit from Kyai Ma`ruf in West Java Province. He hoped that Kyai Ma`ruf could advance West Bandung District after later succeeding in becoming Vice President.

"I have the honor to welcome Kyai Ma`ruf to this West Bandung District. The district is still quite young, and resulted from the division of Bandung District," he said.


Reporting by Riza Harahap
Editing by Elizwan Azly

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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