REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, AMBON -- As a country with the world's biggest Muslim population and a member of G20, Indonesia has a big capital to become a leader of Muslim countries in the world, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said here on Wednesday. "I am convinced that we can become a reference for other countries and leader of Muslim countries if our economy is strong," he said at the opening of 30th Congress of Islamic Students Association (HMI) at Pattimura University.
He stated that he had already told the country's ambassadors that Indonesia was a big country and must not seek aid from other countries. He reiterated that Indonesia has to help others and not seek aid. "I believe we can help," he asserted.
Jokowi reminded HMI members that Islam in Indonesia was moderate, tolerant, and open to progress. "As A member of the G20 group of advanced countries, I believe Indonesia can do much. We have the Panasila state ideology as the unifying ideology and a common home. We also have evidence that our archipelago is strongly united," he remarked.
Jokowi noted that Indonesia also has famous people, academicians, creative persons, as well as Muslim faithfuls. "We have had millions of HMI cadres who have with quality ideals," he revealed.
The president, however, reminded about the importance of developing the nationhood and assured that Indonesia was a just country. "We are now in the current era of globalization which is full of competition and rivalry. We cannot prevent innovation and technology from developing. We are in a fast-moving world," he added.
He explained that there was no other way for Indonesia, except to continue to improve the quality of its human resources to meet the challenges.
"I know HMI has so far always emphasized the need to work, and so what we have so far done is in line with HMI's call that I have known since I was a student, which is to never reject any duty, never buy time, and never leave work unfinished," he stated.
Jokowi pointed out that Indonesia would be able to realize its ideals by strengthening national unity and synergy.
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