MUHAMMADIYAH.ID, YOGYAKARTA– The Central Board of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir conducted a media gathering on Saturday (21/12) at Muhammadiyah Office of Yogyakarta. General Chairman of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir attended the gathering.

Welcoming New Year and Christmas, Haedar appealed to all elements to utilize the moment to enhance unity and integrity of the nation.

“I wish that we can reinforce our unity in this Christmas and New Year,” declared Haedar.

He added that the unity should be strengthened since it may have weakened due to general elections this year.

“The unity may also fall off because of various social issues. Thus, this New Year can be a moment to improve our spirituality in the life of the nation,” he stated.

Haedar highlighted that the Christmas and New Year can toughen interfaith tolerance and create harmony.

He also expected that in this New Year this nation may get mature to resolve each conflict.

“The life of the Indonesian people as a plural society seems like dry grass which is easily burned and spread widely, particularly when sensitive social problems occur,” expressed Haedar.

Hence, a moment of the Christmas and New Year may become an effort to mold positively collective solidarity among the people.

“We have to expand our communication areas as well assilaturahim and perform our own religious teachings well. I believe an elite approach to community in each region can be a role moldel,” asserted Haedar.