TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stated it is his usual business to conduct a meeting with ulema from every group. The president was reported to meet ulemas of Alumni 212 Brotherhood last week in Bogor.

“Almost every day, every week, I visited Islamic boarding schools to meet ulema, or invited ulema to the palace,” said Jokowi today in a sideline of Mitsubishi Expander export event in Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta.

Jokowi argued the meeting is merely aimed to maintain the relationship between umara (the government) and ulema. He expected that meeting will solve many problems occurred among the community. “Generally, the discussion was about it,” said the President.

However, the former Jakarta Governor reluctant to further reveal the meeting discussion. Jokowi also remained non-committal when asked about whether the government was urged to halt the legal process involving ulemas.

“The meeting began with performing zuhr (afternoon) prayer, having lunch, and finished,” Jokowi added.

Earlier, President Jokowi and ulema from Alumni 212 were reported having a meeting in a mosque in Bogor, West Java. The meeting was attended by the head of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Shobri Lubis; the secretary general of Islamic Forum Muhammad Al-Khaththath; and the head of Indonesian Muslim Brotherhood Usamah Hisyam.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI