Sultan HB X Asks People to Go Against SARA, Money Politics

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Keraton King and Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X called the people to be wise in the midst of this political year ahead of the 2019 election.

“First, reject money politics, SARA (ethnicity, religion, and race) issues politicization, hate speech, and hoaxes,” said the Sultan in a video recording released by the public relations bureau of Yogyakarta administration, on Saturday, February 23.

Secondly, the Sultan also encouraged neutrality of state apparatus, Indonesian Military Forces (TNI), National Police, and village administrators.

Read also: Keraton Yogyakarta to Hold Exhibition of Ancient Manuscripts

The video reflected the Sultan’s position as a regional head when many regional heads and state apparatuses declared to back one of the presidential-vice presidential candidates in the 2019 election.

“Third, let’s together create a peaceful, conducive election,” he stressed.

The Sultan also called the public to monitor the election along with the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) in upholding justice during the event.

Presidential and vice presidential candidate number 01 Jokowi - Ma’ruf had visited Sultan Hamengku Buwono X ahead of the election slated to take place April 17. Sultan had also welcomed the pair candidate number 02 Prabowo - Sandiaga. Both candidates were greeted in his residence in Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Palace).

PRIBADI WICAKSONO