SBY calls for polite democracy

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on Thursday for the need to maintain polite and ethical manners while exercising democracy as Prophet Muhammad had shown.

In his speech at the commemoration of the Prophet’s birthday at the State Palace, Yudhoyono said civilized democracy was among the legacies Muhammad had passed on to his followers and the human race.

“Democracy that we build must uphold ethics, politeness and morality, rather than democracy that is based on hostility and intention to disgrace others,” he said.

The President added that the nation wished to see democracy that rejected tyranny of the strong and those who were keen on forcing their will against other people, which he said would undermine justice.

He also underlined that democracy in the reform era always gave a room to deliberation for consensus. The practice prevailed in the past and was misused to stifle opposition.