TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminds the people of West Kalimantan to preserve unity ahead of the 2018 regional elections.

“Indonesians should not be divided by the regional elections that are held every five years,” Jokowi said in his opening speech at a Christmas celebration in Pontianak on Thursday, December 28.

He said that the year 2018 will see 171 regions in Indonesia holding elections, including West Kalimantan.

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President Jokowi stressed the importance of people`s participation in the regional elections and is hopeful that the best candidates would win.

“Therefore, I reiterate that this is a great nation; don’t sacrifice our unity and brotherhood only for regional elections,” he said.

He said that anyone may vote for their preferred candidates during the elections but after it he expects them to maintain harmonious relations as fellow citizens.

“During the campaign period, don’t insult, denigrate, mock, talk down each other. We often forget during campaign that we are one and we are brothers and sisters, it must be preserved and maintained,” the president says.

He also calls on the candidates to promote their programs instead of raising misleading issues.

“Let alone undermining the unity that we have maintained,” Jokowi said.

ANTARA