Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 President Prabowo Subianto has called on all sides\nto set aside their differences and unite in the interests of the people,\nsaying that a volatile global situation requires Indonesia to safeguard\nnational unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesians live in the spirit of Pancasila, in an atmosphere of\nmutual respect, support and love. We have different religions, so let us\nprotect all religions. We have different ethnic groups, so let us\nprotect them all,\u201d President Prabowo said while opening a plenary\nCabinet meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Prabowo said differences in regional languages, customs and cultures\nwere a national asset, while mutual respect was a noble value.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had now become a \u201cmelting pot\u201d, he said, as there were\nhardly any ethnic groups whose members lived only in their places of\norigin. He gave the examples of Minangkabau people in Jakarta, who\noutnumber those in West Sumatra, and Batak people in Bandung, who may\noutnumber those around Lake Toba.<\/p>\n
He then pointed to the diversity in the meeting room, including\nCoordinating Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see this mixture of people in this room. That\u2019s right, isn\u2019t it?\nThere is Mr Bahlil, who is now a coordinating minister. Perhaps the\nfirst coordinating minister from Fakfak,\u201d Prabowo said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo said his political approach was based on national unity and\nbringing all forces together, which was also why his governing coalition\nwas so large.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferences are good, competition is necessary. Mutual criticism and\ncorrection are very necessary. But ultimately, we must safeguard unity,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The President said safeguarding national unity was a common thread in\nthe struggle of Indonesia\u2019s first president, Soekarno. He said the task\nhad become more urgent amid the state of democracy in European countries\nsuch as France and Italy.<\/p>\n
He described the world as having almost no international order, with\npolitics conducted on the basis of power, leaving weaker countries at\nrisk of extinction.<\/p>\n
The plenary Cabinet meeting was held to mark the second anniversary\nof the Prabowo-Gibran administration. It was attended by Vice-President\nGibran Rakabuming Raka, ministers, agency heads, the Indonesian National\nArmed Forces commander, the national police chief, the Governor of Bank\nIndonesia and the chair of the Financial Services Authority (OJK).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prabowo-calls-on-all-sides-to-unite-1792590870", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }