President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Invites Muslims To Stay Away From Being Involved In Today's Memory, February 13, 2010

JAKARTA Memories today, 23 years ago, February 13, 2010, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) attended a national remembrance and prayer event at the National Monument Cross Park (Monas). The event was titled: Commemoration for the Country, for the Benefits of the Nation and the State.

President SBY also invited all Muslims to pray for the Indonesian nation to be safe. Maintain diversity, especially. SBY wants Muslims to stay away from all kinds of fighting against each other or other religions. This wish was expressed with the intention of maintaining unity and integrity.

SBY's work as President of Indonesia who stands for all groups is unquestionable. He realized diversity is Indonesia's strength. For him, the difference is not an obstacle, but a force.

He also often puts up bodies to defend all groups. From the majority to minorities. SBY tries to be present to just mediate the existing conflicts. In fact, he often jumps directly to reconcile with the warring parties. He did not want discrimination to interfere with the diversity of the nation.

SBY's closeness to all groups was praised by many parties. However, that does not mean that SBY made an announcement to Muslims. His closeness to Islam is second to none. In fact, the relationship existed long before SBY became President of Indonesia.

He is familiar with many scholars. To them, SBY was often friendly while asking for instructions. Even SBY was able to explore Islam by discussing many things with ulama. These actions are proof that SBY has a special closeness to the Islamic world.

SBY is also often invited to speak among the ulama, apart from being close to Gus Dur, Hasyim Muzadi, or with Syafi'i Ma'arif. These meetings strengthen the impression that SBY is indeed close to Islamic leaders and Islamic organizations. In fact, we all know that his closeness to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) can be read when SBY is trusted to accompany Gus Dur as a minister in his cabinet.

"It wasn't just that time, actually, before it was not new for SBY. Because, when he was still active as a military, when he became Danrem Yogyakarta, Kasdam Jaya, Pangdam Sriwijaya, or when he served as Kassospol and finally Kaster TNI, SBY had often been in touch with religious leaders and Muslim scholars, according to the capacity and duties being carried out at that time," said Arwan Tuti Artha in the book Dunia Religious SBY (2009).

The closeness of SBY and Islam is often shown in public when he becomes the number one person in Indonesia. In the national remembrance and prayer event at Monas, for example. SBY took the time to attend the event entitled Berdhikr for the Country, For the Benefits of the Nation and the State on February 13, 2010.

The event, which was held by the SBY Nurussalam Dhikr Council, was attended by around 5 thousand worshipers from various Jabodetabek areas. The audience greeted the remembrance event with great fanfare. The rain did not let the spirit of the congregation in attendance recede.

In the event, SBY conveyed a message to Muslims to continue to maintain unity and integrity. "Don't want to be pitted against each other," he said. Muslims must be able to emerge as figures who maintain diversity. Because diversity is a characteristic of Indonesia.

"We are an Indonesian nation. Whatever the religion, whatever the ethnicity, whatever the ethnicity, whatever the origin of the region, and other differences, we are united. We must unite, as a nation, as a servant of God," explained Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as quoted on the State Secretariat website, February 13, 2010.