anura Party chairman Oesman Sapta Odang has called on political and religious leaders to uphold the nation's official motto “unity in diversity” amid rising sectarianism.
Oesman, a noted businessman and a deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), made the call in a political speech he gave after inaugurating the new Hanura executives in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday.
"Our peace and plurality are threatened by hate speech. Ideology, even our holy book, has been interpreted in such a way as to be in line with the interests of certain groups." Oesman said. "Let's encourage our brothers and sisters to stop that. We must protect our Constitution and unity in diversity."
The inauguration ceremony, held a few months after Oesman’s election in December, was attended by high-profile figures, including President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman and MPR Speaker Zulfkili Hasan, United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy and Gerindra Party executive Riza Patria were also in attendance.
Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Said Aqil Siradj were seen sitting next to each other at the event. Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is currently on trial for alleged blasphemy due to his controversial statement about a Qur’anic verse.
"When I see Ahok sitting beside Said, I can feel peace," Oesman said. (ary)
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