Indonesia
Batu, November 27, 2023 – The Director of the Postgraduate Program at Universitas Islam Malang (Unisma), Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, emphasized that the key to national harmony lies in the will to unite. He made this statement during his lecture before the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Batu City, East Java, on Monday, November 27, 2023.
Prof. Mas’ud Said attended in response to an invitation from the MUI of Batu City to deliver a lecture on the theme “Peaceful Elections: Batu City Remains United,” which took place at the Jambu Luwuk Hotel in Batu. As the Director of Unisma’s Postgraduate Program and Vice Chair of the MUI of East Java, Prof. Mas’ud shared his views for a full two hours with the local MUI leadership.
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The event was also attended by representatives from the government, the City Council, the Police, the Military District Command, the District Attorney’s Office, the local KPU chairperson, Bawaslu, interfaith leaders, PCNU, PD Muhammadiyah, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Religion and political party leaders.
In his presentation, Prof. Mas’ud emphasized the importance of political maturity and tabayyun (verification) in addressing news that could trigger conflict or hate speech circulating in the media. Citing verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat from the Quran, which emphasizes human diversity as God’s will, Prof. Mas’ud urged mutual understanding and support despite differences.
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Prof. Mas’ud is optimistic regarding the democratic process and elections in Indonesia. As a graduate of Flinders University School of Political and International Studies in Australia, he stated that Indonesia has achieved political maturity, evidenced by the regular holding of elections since 1955.
With this conviction, Prof. Mas’ud expressed his hope that the 2024 elections will proceed peacefully and smoothly, even more calmly than the 2014 and 2019 elections. Drawing on his extensive experience in the field of politics, he is confident that Indonesia can continue to strengthen national harmony through a mature democratic process.
