Speaking in Pekalongan, Central Java, on Sunday during Maulid Nabi, a commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, the President said that diversity could even become a source of power if all Indonesian people could maintain their unity.

“Rasulullah [Prophet Muhammad] has given an example in engaging in politics. He once made a political contract with all elements and components of society through the Madinah Charter, which aimed to maintain their unity. Islam pays respect to the diversity of ethnic and social groups,” said Jokowi at the Kanzus Sholawat Building in Pekalongan.

“Indonesia has more than 700 ethnic groups with 1,100 local languages and this shows the diversity. The diversity is a gift from God we have always to be grateful for. We have 34 provinces and 516 regencies and cities. Let’s maintain our unity. We need unity. ‘NKRI Harga Mati!’ [The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is undisputed],” the President said.

Jokowi said that social media had now become an intangible enemy. Everyone now has a mobile phone through which all information is available.

“Some information is true, but some other is false. There is information containing accurate facts, but some other information spreads slander. There is truthful information, but some of it is defamatory. The world [of information] opens very wide. Information must be selected. Otherwise it will divide us,” said Jokowi during the event, which was hosted by Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Yahya, a noted ulema from Pekalongan. (ebf)

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