"Indonesia is blessed with diversity marked by the coexistence of various ethnic groups, religions, races, languages, and cultures. This country's founding fathers successfully guided us to embrace diversity by formulating the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila," he highlighted in Malang, East Java, on Friday.
In his speech at a public lecture at the Islamic University of Malang (UNISMA), he stressed that all Indonesian citizens share the responsibility of safeguarding their country's unity amid cultural and religious diversity.
He noted that several countries have been taking notes from Indonesia on ways to uphold the value of tolerance.
"Middle Eastern countries are eager to learn tolerance from us. I am very honored by that," he said.
According to the Vice President, diversity should be seen as a blessing, capital, and wealth, which unite, rather than divide.
He then called all parties to once again contemplate Indonesia's view on differences as the country is still facing several issues that can threaten its unity, such as the use of religion as a political instrument.
The responsibility to address such issues does not only lie with the government since all elements of the society, including religious figures, mass media, political parties, and educational institutions, need to play a role in it as well, he affirmed.
He further said that UNISMA can help promote religious moderation and preserve unity by offering study materials in different languages to help foreigners seeking to learn Indonesia's way of tolerance.
"UNISMA is a campus that pioneered an anti-radicalism movement. This is the campus that has been designated as a pilot project for religious moderation and patriotism by the Religious Affairs Ministry," he added.
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Translator: Andi F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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