Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan has called on the hardline Muslim group Islam Defenders Front (FPI) to join efforts to promote national unity and protect the country's ideology of Pancasila.

Speaking at an event to celebrate the FPI's 19th anniversary on Saturday, Anies also urged the organization to improve its image.

"I want to reiterate what I have said before, that from now on the FPI must prove itself as one of the organizations that serve as guardians of the country's diversity," Anies said in his speech, as quoted by tempo.co.

In his speech, Anies also called on the FPI to help solve the problem of inequity and injustice in society.

The former education minister said injustice could create problems that threaten national unity.

"We should not only make efforts to preserve the country's unity, but also fight for social justice for all people in Indonesia," Anies said.

Anies delivered his speech after joining a predawn Subuh prayer with leaders and activists of the Muslim organization.

FPI leader Rizieq Shihab, who is in Saudi Arabia after being named a suspect in a pornography case, played a key role in the election of Anies by mobilizing Muslims in the capital to call for the prosecution of his rival in the 2017 gubernatorial election, Basuki Thahaja "Ahok" Purnama.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by JAKARTA POST

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]