Jakarta – Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Kaesang Pangarep met with representatives of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) from South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi on Tuesday in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Following the closed-door meeting, the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the visit was for silaturahmi (fraternal bonding), and that he had also visited other religious communities from different faiths. "We're [fostering] silaturahmi. We've visited Islamic boarding schools, temples and now the PGI," he said.
Kaesang added that he used the occasion to encourage members of the community to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. "[We are] inviting the congregation to go to polling stations on Feb. 14, 2024, that's all," he said.
Previously, the PSI chairman reportedly made a visit to the Chinese-Indonesian community at the Xiang Ma Temple in Makassar on the same day to urge them to vote in the upcoming election.
"My intention in coming here is not to campaign or persuade all of you to vote for the PSI," said Kaesang after introducing himself to the community.
"But here, I want to invite all of you to go to polling stations on Feb. 14, 2024, so that you can determine the direction of Indonesia in the future. I believe the easiest way to engage in politics is to get out and vote," he said.
Kaesang added that the public had their choices lined up before them for the presidential and legislative elections, and urged them to vote according to their consciences.