MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Medan Mayor, Rico Waas, has called on all residents to continue maintaining tolerance and embracing diversity as social capital and a driving force for the city's development. He said the diversity that has grown within Medan is a major strength that must be preserved to create a harmonious, safe, and stable social environment.
The appeal was delivered when Rico Waas officially opened the socialization event for the implementation of the Indonesian Harmony Index E-Survey in Medan at the Medan City PKK Building on Friday, July 10, 2026.
In his speech, Rico Waas emphasized that Indonesia was built upon the diversity of ethnic groups, religions, cultures, and traditions stretching from Sabang to Merauke. This condition has made Indonesia a nation rich in differences. Medan, he added, has long been known as a miniature version of Indonesia because the city is home to people from various backgrounds.
According to Rico Waas, diversity is not an obstacle to peaceful coexistence. Instead, differences represent a strength that enriches social life while encouraging regional progress.
He compared Medan's diverse population to a flower garden, where various colors and shapes create a unique beauty.
"Imagine a garden filled with only one type of flower stretching from one end to the other. At first, it may look beautiful, but over time it will become boring. Now imagine a garden with green, blue, and yellow colors, with grass and flowers of different textures. That is a beautiful garden, made attractive through harmony," said Rico Waas.
Diversity as the Foundation for City Development
Rico Waas explained that values such as tolerance, mutual respect, and acceptance of differences have been taught since elementary school. Therefore, all elements of society must demonstrate strong commitment to preserving these values amid an increasingly dynamic social environment.
He stated that the social harmony that has been built in Medan should not only be maintained by the current generation. The government, together with all community groups, must continue passing on the values of tolerance to younger generations so they can preserve unity and utilize diversity as a strength for future development.
For this reason, Rico Waas urged district heads (Camat) and all community groups involved in the event to become ambassadors of harmony in their respective areas. He also encouraged wider public participation in the Indonesian Harmony Index E-Survey so residents could actively contribute to the assessment.
"We may agree with these values today in this room, but we need to understand how Generation Z and Generation Alpha view them. Do they think the same way? We must pass knowledge on to our children so that differences do not become barriers, but instead become a force that can advance the economy and development of our city in the future," he explained.
Rico Waas also reminded residents that the spirit of tolerance aligns with the message contained in Medan's marching song motto: "Medan Untuk Semua dan Semua Untuk Medan" (Medan for all and all for Medan). The motto reflects that Medan is a home for all ethnicities, religions, races, and social groups without discrimination based on background.
He stressed that all citizens share equal responsibility in maintaining social cohesion and creating a peaceful atmosphere to support regional development.
"Let us continue preserving this harmony. The differences we have are not a problem, but must become a strength to jointly build the city of Medan," said Rico Waas.
E-Survey as a Basis for Policy Decisions
On the same occasion, Head of the Medan City National Unity and Political Affairs Agency (Kesbangpol), Andi Mario Siregar, explained that the government is conducting the Indonesian Harmony Index measurement across 19 provinces. North Sumatra Province is among the regions participating in the assessment.
Andi Mario said that public participation in Medan's E-Survey had shown very positive results. As of Friday, July 10, 2026, at 08:00 WIB, the number of participants had exceeded the target set by the organizers.
"The enthusiasm of Medan residents is very high. We recorded that by 08:00 WIB this morning, 2,020 residents of Medan had participated in this E-Survey, exceeding the target. Our hope moving forward is that the data distribution will be evenly represented across all areas," said Andi Mario.
He explained that the government would use the E-Survey results as a basis for analyzing the level of social harmony among residents while planning data-driven development policies.
The survey will also provide an overview of social conditions from various sectors, including economic, social, cultural, and diversity aspects. The government hopes the findings will support the preparation of targeted development programs while strengthening a safe, peaceful, and harmonious social environment.
500 Participants Support Implementation
Andi Mario added that the Medan City Government would conduct the survey socialization over three days, namely July 10, 13, and 14, 2026.
The organizers involved 500 participants from various community groups to support the implementation of the socialization program and increase public participation in the Indonesian Harmony Index E-Survey.
"This activity will take place on July 10, 13, and 14, 2026, involving a total of 500 participants," he concluded.
Several representatives from the Medan Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), heads of government agencies, and district heads also attended the opening of the socialization event for the Indonesian Harmony Index E-Survey measurement in Medan. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala