REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice presidential candiate KH Ma'ruf Amin has said that national unity is a crucial foundation for protection of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). He stated that in his remarks during an event to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the United Development Party (PPP), in Jakarta, Sunday evening.

"NKRI is final, as the pillar of the state together with PancasiIa (state ideology) and the UUD (Constitution) 1945," Ma'ruf said.

Pancasila and UUD 1945 are guidelines for the Indonesian people in living in the country, the chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), stated.

"The founding fathers had drafted and reached compromise to make Islam and nationhood compatible," he said.

NKRI is considered final because it has been successful in turning into an agreement, Ma'ruf said. He urged the PPP cadres to help protect NKRI incessantly.

"We forever have to protect what we have agreed upon," Ma'ruf, prominent figure of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said.

PPP is a political party supporting the Government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who seeks second term. The Jokowi-Ma'ruf pair is backed by a coalition called Working Indonesian Coalition (KIK) involving nine political parties which have set up a national campaign team (TKN) for Jokowi.

The nine political parties are the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP), the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), Golkar Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), National Democratic Party (Nasdem), People's Conscience Party (Hanura),the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI), the United Indonesia Party (Perindo), and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

Indonesia will organize presidential elections on April 17, 2019, considered by many as a repeat of the bitter 2014 presidential race, wherein incumbent Jokowi and Prabowo Subianto are again set to go head-to-head.

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