Campaign in NTT, Ganjar Highlights the Importance of Maintaining Diversity

In NTT, presidential candidate number 3, Ganjar Pranowo, held a dialogue with interfaith figures. Meanwhile, his running mate, Mahfud MD, in Banten, emphasized that the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) must rise.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Kampanye di NTT, Ganjar Soroti Pentingnya Jaga Keberagaman

DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo greeted the residents who welcomed him at El Tari International Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (1/12/2023).

KUPANG, KOMPAS — Presidential candidate number 3, Ganjar Pranowo, started his campaign in East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (1/12/ 2023), with religious figures from the Indonesian Ulema Council and the Synod of the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT). The former Governor of Central Java emphasized the importance of maintaining diversity and tolerance by paying more attention to Koran teachers, Sunday school teachers and religious leaders at the grassroots level.

Because it was already time for Friday prayers, Ganjar departed from the airport to the Indonesian Air Force Mosque (AURI) in Kupang. He chose that particular location to perform Friday prayers because it was the closest to the airport. With time running short as the prayer time began, he hurriedly entered the mosque.

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Meeting with MUI NTT

After performing Friday prayers and while putting on his shoes, he was approached by a young boy. The young boy shook hands and kissed Ganjar's hand. Ganjar then had a conversation with the boy who was wearing a blue robe.

"What is the name? Which grade are you?" Ganjar asked the child.

The child answered that they were in the first grade of the Integrated Islamic Elementary School. Ganjar also asked about the child's aspirations. With confidence, the child answered that they wanted to become president. Upon hearing the response, Ganjar was surprised and high-fived the child.

After Friday prayers, Ganjar had a closed meeting with the MUI of East Nusa Tenggara. The MUI office is located beside the Great Mosque of Kupang City.

DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo gave a statement to the media at the Synod of the Eastern Gospel Church in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday (1/12/2023).

"Today, we discussed many things about the contributions of religious figures in maintaining the situation and conditions in their respective places. From these two religious figures, we also gained a lot of input not only about religion, but also about health, social issues, education, infrastructure, and many more," explained Ganjar.

Ganjar said these inputs were very important in the political year 2024 Election where religious leaders played a significant role in maintaining unity and integrity. They can also invite the public to keep calm and not make hoaxes about the election.

"There is a moral message that I think is quite good because I am one of the contestants (in the 2024 Presidential Election). I think if that is done, it could make the sensitivity of many people's feelings," added Ganjar.

Ganjar also elaborated on the issue of religious harmony, stating that there is still much that needs to be improved.

Ganjar also explained that regarding the issue of inter-religious harmony, there is still a lot that needs to be improved. The spearhead of improvement to maintain unity and integrity are religious teachers, namely Koran teachers, Sunday school teachers, and so on. He believes that teachers can teach religious values ​​to students so that they can get used to differences and see differences as beautiful.

"What must be encouraged is how to give more attention to religious teachers, both formal and non-formal, such as Koran teachers, Sunday schools, or other religions," he explained.

He gave an example, during his leadership in Central Java, he donated approximately IDR 270 billion per year to the Ministry of Religion to be distributed to informal teachers. If this program is continued, it will require around IDR 4 trillion nationwide to provide attention to religious educators who are the backbone of spreading religious messages.

In NTT, according to plan, Ganjar will visit Rote Island and Miangas Island to get a closer look at Indonesia from its easternmost point.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Coordination, Mahfud MD, who is also the running mate number 3, was met in Jakarta on Tuesday (26/9/2023).

Meanwhile, Ganjar's running mate vice presidential candidate, Mahfud MD chose to campaign in the Pandeglang area, Banten. Mahfud had a dialogue with ulama and boarding school administrators in Pandeglang.

When asked for his opinion on the statement made by the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission for the 2015-2019 period, Agus Rahardjo, regarding the alleged intervention of President Joko Widodo in the electronic ID card (KTP-el) corruption case, he believes that law enforcement agencies should not be intervened with.

"But whether it is true or not that the President intervened with Mr. Agus, that is Mr. Agus who knows. Let the public judge how this case is. However, we must not intervene in law enforcement. "I myself have never ever," said Mahfud.

Also read: Palace Denies President's Intervention in E-KTP Corruption Case

The Corruption Eradication Committee must rise

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court believes that the KPK must now rise after falling due to the alleged extortion case that ensnared the former Corruption Eradication Committee Chairman Firli Bahuri. With this incident, the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) cannot intervene in the future, either by the president, political parties or officials who often lobby to disrupt law enforcement.

Moving forward, according to Mahfud, the upcoming government must ensure that law enforcement institutions, particularly in the field of anti-corruption, are given independence and sufficient budget allocations so that their performance is truly professional.