"Indonesia is a diverse, plural country, but that wealth of diversity has a huge potential for conflict, which, if not managed, can break," Karnavian remarked while opening a national coordination meeting here on Tuesday.
The national coordination meeting was related to forming resilience in the economic, social, and cultural fields.
According to him, the Indonesian nation is pluralistic, with more than 1,300 ethnicities and different beliefs recorded as of Tuesday, and full of disparities.
However, diversity increases the chances of conflict, thus, he invited local governments to help solve the problems for protecting the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
"Not many countries have such diversity like Indonesia, and not many countries are able to take care of it," he said.
The greatest and most valuable wealth owned by Indonesia is not its natural resources or high population, but the diverse ethnicities, religious beliefs, and races of its people, he said.
"We are a united country today with various ethnicities, religions, and races," the minister said.
Meanwhile, he compared national security to health which must be cared for properly.
He said if one is sick then money might not be able to save them, same goes for Indonesia: if it is not safe, its diversity would be meaningless.
Karnavian asked all regional heads to build coordination with the regional leadership communication forum (Forkopimda), religious leaders, and other related parties to maintain a safe and conducive condition.
"Everything must be done with togetherness. Our common interest must be used. On the contrary, what distinguishes us must be reduced so that we remain one nation and be able to become a globally influential country," he said.
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Translator: M Harianto, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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