In Order Not To Be Diluted By The Times, Jokowi Asks People To Be Fluent At Least One Regional Language

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invites the public to have language skills in at least one regional language in Indonesia, in order to prevent the erosion of the diversity of regional languages due to the times.

This statement was made by Jokowi while attending the opening of the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of the Men's Association of Javanese Birth Sumatra (Pujakesuma) in the Ancol area, Jakarta, on Saturday.

"Ladies and gentlemen, at least we have to try, at least be fluent in one regional language, because we have more than 714 tribes and more than 1,300 regional languages," he said, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 20.

He said that if every community is fluent in one or more regional languages, then the regional languages in Indonesia will not be eroded by the times.

"So that our (regional language) is not eroded by the times, so that the diversity of languages, the diversity of Indonesian culture can really be maintained and we can preserve it," he said.

He then emphasized that Indonesia is a big country. The President said that he had flown directly from Aceh to Papua with a travel time of 9 hours and 15 minutes.

The travel time is like a flight from London, England to the east passing through 7 countries.

The President also invited the public to realize that Indonesia is a large country with a total of 17,000 islands.

He emphasized that cultural diversity in Indonesia must be maintained and preserved.

"And also the diversity that we have is also extraordinary, this is a gift from Allah to us, more than 1,300 regional languages, imagine, one ethnic group alone war is not finished, not to mention in the Middle East," he said.

"(Diversity) This is what we must continue to care for, we take care of it together, and also don't forget to preserve our culture, our regional language, because it is the identity of our nation," he said.