Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs: Interfaith Harmony is Strength to Overcome Disruptions to National Progress

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs (Wamenag) Romo Muhammad Syafi’i has stated that interfaith harmony is a strength to overcome various disruptions from certain parties who do not wish to see Indonesia become a developed nation. Speaking after attending the 63rd National Annual Service of the Indonesian Gospel Preaching Service Foundation (YPPII) in Batu City, East Java, on Tuesday evening, he said the Indonesian nation has a long history of nurturing and maintaining interfaith relations that have grown and taken root. “Our nation has been tested by various experiences over a long period; all communities can live compactly, harmoniously, and peacefully. This is our collective strength to face obstacles, threats, challenges, and disruptions from parties who feel disadvantaged,” said Romo Syafi’i. He conveyed that one of the parties feeling disadvantaged are those who can no longer run illegal businesses due to the government’s firm steps in issuing and implementing policies based on the values of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. “As a result, they have lost their source of livelihood, which had actually been detrimental to the Indonesian people,” he said. Romo Syafi’i also explained that his attendance at the 63rd YPPII National Annual Service was part of practising the values of tolerance. Furthermore, he stated that his presence was a form of respect for the founder, Reverend Petrus Octavianus, who was known as a figure full of love, care, and who always directed the nation’s children towards the path of truth. “What does this mean? It means that the energy brought by Reverend Petrus Octavianus, I believe, is channelled to the entire congregation,” he said. Romo Syafi’i invited YPPII to continue to accompany the government in efforts to ignite the spirit of national unity and integrity. “Religious communities that have proven to be united and harmonious, let us together build positive relations with the government so that the government can complete its programmes for the welfare of the Indonesian people,” he concluded.