Surabaya – Panglima TNI Jenderal TNI Agus Subiyanto and Kapolri, Jenderal Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo, accompanied President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to attend the Peak of the 2023 National Christmas Celebration at Graha Bethany Ngiden, Bethany Nginden Church, Surabaya, East Java, Wednesday, (27/12 ).
Bethany Nginden Church is the largest church in Surabaya, in fact one of the largest churches in Southeast Asia with a capacity of approximately 30,000 congregation.
Also accompanying a number of ministers at that time were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md, Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi, Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, and Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa.
The Panglima TNI and Kapolri looked united wearing the same colored batik as the ministers.
The 2023 National Christmas Celebration carries the theme ‘Glory to Allah and Peace on Earth’.
The Panglima TNI and Kapolri ensured that the National Christmas Celebration peaked safely and solemnly. The security prepared involved 1,152 joint TNI-Polri personnel and the Surabaya City Government.
President Jokowi in his speech at the peak of the 2023 National Christmas Celebration spoke about the 2024 Election. He invited Christians to maintain unity and integrity in the political year.
“Ladies and gentlemen, even though we are entering a political year, even though soon we will hold elections, elect legislative members, elect the president and vice president, we must continue to maintain tolerance and maintain peaceful unity. Differences in political choices are normal in democracy, don’t you agree?” said the President.
“But we are united by nobler interests, namely maintaining unity, peace, mutual cooperation, humanitarian interests, and advancing the country we love, Indonesia,” he continued.
Furthermore, President Jokowi also advised that the development that has been achieved should continue to be maintained. For the sake of achieving the ideals of a developed Indonesia.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must continue to maintain and maintain the development achievements we have achieved, we must continue so that the ideals of an advanced Indonesia become more real,” said the President.
“Once again I wish you a Merry Christmas 2023 and a Happy New Year 2024, may the light of Christmas light, peace and love of Christmas guide you to glory and lead you to glorious times.”
“Hopefully we can consistently fight for the momentum to achieve Indonesia to become a developed country that is fair and prosperous and obtain guidance and convenience from Almighty God, may God bless us all,” added the President ending his remarks. Bembo
