"I agree with the suggestion of Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)to underline unity in diversity during campaign. Our unity is very important."Kupang, NTT (ANTARA) - Presidential candidate number 01 Joko Widodo seconded Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's (SBY's) suggestion to highlight unity in diversity during an open campaign for the upcoming presidential election.
"I agree with the suggestion put forth by Democrat Party Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to lay emphasis on unity in diversity during campaigns. Our unity holds immense significance," Widodo remarked after an open campaign in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Monday.
Widodo drew the public's attention to the fact that the elections were merely a five-yearly contest, so the nation's unity should not affected by it.
The former Solo mayor has followed the practice of showcasing Indonesia's abundance of cultural arts and customs during his political campaigns through a cultural carnival.
"I think, we should avoid Tribe, Religion, Race and Customs (SARA) during the campaign," he emphasized.
SBY, in a letter sent earlier to Democrat Party leaders regarding campaigning for the Prabowo Subianto- Sandiaga Uno pair during a grand campaign in the complex of the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Sunday (Apr 7), put forth a suggestion that the campaigns should epitomize diversity and pluralism; avoid expressions of the strength of identity based on religion, ethnicity, and regionalism, as well as those with ideological nuances, extreme political understanding, and polarization.
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Eliswan Azly
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
