President urges prospective regional leaders to avoid jeering

Ciamis, West Java (Antaranews Babel) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on prospective regional leaders to avoid jeering at one another in the upcoming simultaneous regional head elections.

"I call on all prospective regional heads to convey their good ideas, programs, and achievements to the people instead of ridiculing and insulting each other," Jokowi remarked while distributing land certificates in Ciamis, West Java, on Tuesday.

The president delivered land certificates to 5,477 land owners from the districts of Ciamis, Banjar, and Pangandaran and the city of Tasikmalaya.

On the occasion, the president reiterated his call to the public to uphold brotherhood despite the diverse choices they will make in the regional elections in 2018.

"(It is important), lest we lose our unity owing to the different people we vote. Do not be divided because of different political views. The regent has said, it is okay to have different political choices but do not (let them) ruin our brotherhood," the president emphasized.

The head of state expressed hope that the five-yearly event would not cause disunity in society.

"This year, regional elections will be held in 171 provinces, districts, and cities throughout Indonesia. I call on the people to not allow the elections to affect the nation's unity," he stated.

Jokowi added that the elections will only be held every five years, and the people should vote for the best leaders and thereafter return to their harmonious way of life.