UIN Public Relations – The Head of the Center for Interfaith Harmony (PKUB) at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, M. Adib Abdushomad, M.Ag., M.Ed., Ph.D., served as the keynote speaker at the event “PKUB Goes to Campus: Building a Generation of Harmony: Strengthening Interfaith Harmony Literacy.” This strategic event, aimed at new students at State Religious Universities (PTKN) throughoutIndonesia was held as part of the Academic and Student Life Orientation (PBAK) program at UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin in Banten on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
In his presentation, M. Adib Abdushomad expressed a powerful perspective—albeit indirectly—on the philosophy of interfaith harmony in Indonesia. M. Adib Abdushomad emphasized that maintaining harmony among religious communities is not merely a routine or a bureaucratic task, but rather a constitutional mandate to preserve diversity in accordance with the noble principles of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.. The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ PKUB has been established to serve as a driving force to ensure that the wide-ranging differences across the archipelago can become a unifying force, rather than a source of division.
The explanation behind this indirect statement is highly relevant to current social dynamics. Indonesia faces various threats that could undermine social harmony, ranging from the escalation of international conflicts that have domestic repercussions, to grassroots socio-religious conflicts, to controversies surrounding the rejection and licensing of places of worship.. In addition, there were critical findings regarding a literacy crisis, as 100 percent of the students who responded to the PKUB survey reported that they had never heard of, let alone understood, regulations on social harmony such as Joint Ministerial Regulations (PBM) Nos. 9 and 8 of 2006. Therefore, legal understanding and awareness need to be instilled early on in the academic environment so that students are not at a loss when dealing with issues of tolerance.
Regarding concrete measures to prevent conflict, the Head of the PKUB at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs emphasized directly in his statement: “Prevention is better than cure. It is better to foster harmony (before conflict arises) than to realize the importance of harmony only after conflict has claimed victims.”. This direct statement lies at the heart of the preventive mitigation paradigm currently being developed by the government. This quote explains that preventive measures are far more valuable and effective than efforts to resolve issues after a crisis has occurred. This message aligns with PKUB’s strategic programs, such as the SI-Rukun Early Warning System (EWS), which is an app-based early detection system for social conflicts with religious dimensions. real-time. M. Adib Abdushomad urged students not to be passive, but rather to take an active role as “Ambassadors of Harmony” who embody tolerance on campus and in the digital sphere before any sparks of conflict escalate.
Through a holistic approach to interfaith literacy, the “PKUB Goes to Campus” initiative is expected to foster a “Generation of Harmony.” New students are prepared to understand the reality of a diverse nation, recognize the root causes of conflict, and grasp the substance of harmony regulations—which have shifted from merely protecting the sanctity of religion to safeguarding public order and social cohesion among religious communities, as outlined in the new Criminal Code.. The university’s capacity-building efforts through this interactive dialogue forum serve as a vital starting point for fostering active peacebuilders in Indonesia.
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