REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) receives Secretary General of the Muslim Hukama Assembly (MHM) Counselor Muhammed Abdelsalam at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday (4/1/2024). During the meeting, Jokowi stressed the importance of the role of the nation's scholars and sages in dealing with various global issues and challenges.
Through the meeting, it is expected that a number of initiatives will arise to be carried out jointly.
“Many things were a common view and the two sides, God willing, after this, there will be initiatives that will be worked on together,” said Yahya Cholil Staquf, the Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama.
In addition, Jokowi also expressed appreciation for the efforts and steps taken by the Muslim Hukama Assembly under the leadership of Grand Sheikh Al-Azhar Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb in promoting peace, spreading the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human brotherhood. As well as in optimizing the role of leaders and religious leaders in dealing with global challenges, including the issue of climate change and its impacts.
Jokowi also appreciated the cooperation that has been established between the Muslim Hukama Assembly with PB Nahdhatul Ulama and PP Muhammadiyah in establishing human brotherhood and coexistence, especially related to the development of humanitarian conditions in recent times.
Yahya said that the meeting also discussed a number of measures and efforts to improve cooperation between the government and social organizations of Indonesia-United Arab Emirates.
“I, along with the Secretary General of PBNU, were invited by Mr. President to participate in meeting the special envoy of President Muhammad Bin Zayed by the United Arab Emirates who specifically came to Indonesia to meet Mr. President in order to increase cooperation not only between the Emirati government and the Indonesian government but also with the good social organizations formed in the Emirate with the community organizations in Indonesia, especially Nahdlatul Ulul. But,” he exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdelsalam expressed his appreciation to President Jokowi for Indonesia's role in addressing various problems of the Islamic world. Indonesia is considered to display a model of Islamic civilization with religious and cultural diversity that inspires other nations especially in Southeast Asia.
Abdelsalam said that in the future there will be many initiatives and plans for cooperation between the Southeast Asian Muslim Association Assembly Branch based in Jakarta and various religious institutions and governments in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The cooperation, he added, aims to build communication bridges and promote the values of dialogue and coexistence.
Mohammed Abdelsalam also expressed his appreciation to Indonesia for its humanitarian assistance efforts in order to create global peace, especially in support of the Palestinians.
Accompanying the President in the meeting were Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, PBNU General Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, PBNU Secretary General Syaifullah Yusuf, PP Muhammadiyah General Chairman Haedar Nasir, and PP Muhammadiyah Secretary General Abdul Mu'ti.
In addition, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Indonesia Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri and Muslim Hukama Assembly Member Quraish Shihab were also present.
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