Former Indonesian president Joko Widodo says mutual understanding between leaders and people is essential to building lasting peace and trust
GEORGE TOWN: Leaders and their people must understand each other for peace to take root, said former Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
Popularly known as Jokowi, the statesman said the role of leaders became particularly important during challenging times.
“A leader is not only someone who understands strategy and power, but someone who truly understands their people, who listens to them, feels their concerns, understands their problems, and works for their future,” he said in his speech at the inaugural Penang Peace Dialogue at Jen Hotel here yesterday.
However, Jokowi said good leadership alone was not enough, as society also had an important role to play.
He said a strong society was not merely one that demanded things from its leaders, but also one that understood the direction taken by its leaders and the challenges they faced.
“When people understand, passion grows. When people trust, support follows. And when leaders and people truly understand each other, that is where the foundation of peace comes,” he said.
Jokowi said peace also came from “a heart willing to listen and from the courage to understand”.
He said the Penang Peace Dialogue provided an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas, learn from one another and work together towards peace and a better future.
“With big hope for peace, tonight, together we open the Penang Peace Dialogue. May this gathering bring ideas and real actions for a more peaceful world,” he said.
Also present at the gala dinner were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, former chief minister Lim Guan Eng and former chief minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon.
The Penang Peace Dialogue, themed “Bridging Civilisations in a Multipolar World”, is the centrepiece of the four-day Commonwealth of World Chinatowns (CWC) Conference Series, held from Sept 3 to 6.
Among the prominent speakers are Professor Emeritus Jomo Kwame Sundaram, former Singaporean ambassador Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Professor Victor Gao and economist Professor Jeffrey Sachs, who will participate virtually.
Other programmes include discussions on globalisation, the United Nations and the global order, as well as workshops, exhibitions and sessions on initiatives including the International Youth Space Academy, Ancient Frontiers and Regionalising Art.
The Penang Peace Dialogue continues today with a full-day programme featuring keynote speeches and roundtable discussions.
Meanwhile, cartoonist Zunar presented Jokowi with a copy of his book Melukis dengan Hati during a visit to the exhibition booths.
Jokowi was accompanied by Chow, Lim, Koh and other guests during the visit.
The Sun Malaysia
