Shared Home: Makassar Mayor Stresses Interfaith Collaboration as Key to Peace in Waisak Celebration

Turning religious occasions into a platform for interfaith harmony, Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin not only presided over the ceremony but also underscored the strategic role of the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB). Amidst the chanting of prayers and the glow of candles during the Waisak celebration at Fort Rotterdam, Mayor Munafri Arifuddin made statements that galvanised grassroots tolerance. Far from a mere ceremony, Appi, as he is affectionately known, used the sacred night to deliver a firm directive: bolster support for the FKUB. For Appi, ‘Makassar is a shared home,’ and it can only be strong if all its residents, regardless of faith, work together. The commemoration of Trisuci Waisak 2570 BE/2026 at the historic Fort Rotterdam courtyard on Sunday evening (31/5) was not only solemn; it became a call for the city’s pluralism. In his speech before hundreds of Buddhists, religious leaders, regional security officials, and FKUB members, App delivered a warming acknowledgment and a motivating resolve. ‘Makassar is an open city. It thrives because all groups are given equal space to coexist,’ he stated firmly. However, Appi’s statements went beyond rhetoric. He explicitly instructed his subordinates to take concrete action. ‘I want to inform the Head of Makassar’s Bureau of National Unity and Politics to consider increasing support activities for FKUB members,’ he said. ‘This will allow more programmes to be implemented to strengthen religious harmony and maintain Makassar as a tolerant city,’ Appi added. For him, tolerance is the foundation of development. He stressed that the city’s progress cannot be achieved through partial or sectoral development driven by ego. ‘Makassar will not grow or thrive if we work in isolation. The strength to build this city must start from unity, good synergy, and collaboration that benefits everyone,’ he stressed. Under the theme ‘Dharma in Maintaining World Peace’, Appi linked the spirit of Waisak with Makassar’s social realities. He said societal issues must be resolved through dialogue and consultation, not suspicion or hostility. ‘We must find solutions to existing issues together through discussions and consultations that result in decisions not harming anyone,’ he said. At the event’s conclusion, Appi extended Waisak greetings and urged all city stakeholders to nurture the harmony that has long been Makassar’s strength. ‘Happy Waisak to all Buddhists in Makassar. May this celebration bring peace, happiness, and strengthen brotherhood amidst our shared diversity,’ he concluded. The Sannipata Waisak event, organised by the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Permabudhi), was held solemnly with attendance from various religious organisations and Makassar City Government officials. (H-2) This was Munafri’s first such event since his inauguration as Makassar Mayor in February.