Author: Satrio Alif
In commemoration of Youth Pledge Day, Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a public discussion on Thursday (28/10). Each session of this activity presented competent speakers in their fields, one of whom was Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as the Minister of Religious Affairs. In his presentation, Yaqut talked about the important role of diversity in realizing Indonesia’s progress. Yaqut began his presentation by stating that harmony is the key to maintaining Indonesia’s diversity. This diversity must be managed properly so that all Indonesian people can develop and complement each other in order to create a harmonious national life.
This good diversity management step is carried out by providing space for each identity in society to express and bring out its existence. With the space provided, it is hoped that it can build awareness of living together in Indonesian society that comes from diverse identities. The awareness of living together as a nation will play a role in preventing the emergence of egoism from some groups who feel they are better than others (chauvinism).
“In order to maintain the awareness of living together in Indonesia society, I think it is important for the country through the government to try to prevent the seeds of disunity from arising, at least, the seeds of disunity among Indonesian youth. The efforts made by the government are reflected in the existence of a priority program for religious moderation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” said Yaqut. This religious moderation program is implemented by the Ministry of Religious Affairs based on the 2019 – 2024 Medium Term Development Plan (RJMN) launched by President Joko Widodo.
This program aims to create religious life, starting from the family, community environment, to the country life level. This program itself is expected to be applied in the international environment after successfully implemented at the national level. The religious moderation implemented will focus on the function of harmony as an adhesive for the unity and integrity of the nation. Harmony can be realized when Indonesian people have a moderate understanding and practice of religion. This moderate understanding does not mean a moderated understanding of religion, but what is moderated is a flexible practice of religion.
“In religious moderation, there is often a misguidance if what is being moderated is the teachings of the religion. Thus, the concept of religious moderation is often considered an attempt to reduce religious teachings. However, actually the moderation of religion being referred to here is moderation in the implementation of religious practices. That is, each of us has an obligation to hold fast to our beliefs and at the same time respect others who have different beliefs from us. This is the main key to religious moderation,” said Yaqut.
Yaqut’s explanation regarding religious moderation is in accordance with the purpose of holding this public discussion, which is to present various views regarding Indonesia’s diversity, from culture to the economy. The first session in this public discussion talked about the harmony of diversity towards a strong and independent Indonesia. Meanwhile, the second session of this public discussion discussed the mutual cooperation of the younger generation to realize the revival of Indonesia. Apart from Yaqut, the first session also presented several other speakers, namely M. Arsjad Rasjid P.M (General Chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Dr. Penny Kusumastuti Lukito (Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control), Prof. drh. Aris Junaidi, Ph.D. (Director of Belmawa of Ministry of Research andTechnology), and Prof. Suahasil Nazara, M.Sc., Ph.D (Deputy Minister of Finance).
