"We hope that (we can change) our perception that an election is a medium to realize national integrity," KPU Chairperson Hasyim Asy'ari stated after an audience with the Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia (Matakin) at the Kong Miao Chinese Temple in the Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park (TMII) here, Friday.
The KPU head expressed hope that all parties would exercise restraint to respond to political differences in elections for national unity.
He also called on the public to perceive general election as a medium to reach consensus, so the people would be optimistic that the presidential and legislative candidates with the best quality will be elected.
"An election is also a medium to reach a consensus because everyone has the opportunity to make their voice heard through ballot papers. We must be optimistic in welcoming the election years in 2023 and 2024," Asy'ari stated.
Meanwhile, Matakin's Spiritual Council Chairperson Budi Santoso Tanuwibowo reminded that as faithful and virtuous people, all must understand that competition in elections is reasonable, and it must not affect relations with other people in society and in the framework of national unity.
"For a faithful and virtuous person, competition is reasonable as long as you are not committing bad deeds, and a faithful person also has the quality to maintain harmony," Tanuwibowo said.
Differences in political views and preferences are also appropriate, as no single person in the world would share exactly the same personal and political outlook as others, he remarked.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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