Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat speaking at a group discussion at the University of Tanjungpura, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Friday (11/11/2022). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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Friday, November 11, 2022 | 22:39 WIB

JAKARTA (MKRI)—Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat spoke at a group discussion on “Strengthening the Spirit of Constitutionalism and Heroism in the Nation and State” on Friday, November 11, 2022 on site at the auditorium of the University of Tanjungpura (Untan), Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The event was part of the Constitution and Anti-Corruption Festival of 2022 by the Constitutional Court (MK), People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and Untan.

Justice Arief talked about the long history of the nation and its goals in the fourth paragraph of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, whose realization must be based on the state ideology Pancasila. He added that world constitutions are typically geared toward internal goals: welfare, state security, and freedom. Meanwhile, external goals are not usually mentioned in the constitution.

Nevertheless, he said, Indonesia has declared its external goal in the fourth paragraph of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution: participating in world order. If world order is achieved, Indonesia will prosper.

“This prosperity is not for [Indonesia] alone, but also for other nations in the world. All of that is based on Pancasila,” he said.

He added that Indonesia set goals that are more expansive than those of other countries. These goals are not selfish, as they do not only serve the nation, but also for other nations in the world.

He also stressed that all religions and beliefs in Indonesia are recognized, thus respect and tolerance for one another is necessary.

“The majority here are Muslims, so the prayer we said when we began this event was Islamic. However, non-Muslim participants can also pray according to their faith and religion,” he said.

Shared History

Untan lecturer and another speaker at the event Rommy Patra said that Indonesia is a nation bound by a shared history that united all ethnicities.

“As a nation, we are bound by a shared experience, a shared history,” he said. 

He stressed that there should be a consensus on shared goals and the concept of a rule of law as a foundation of a country and nation. Indonesia should be thankful for having Pancasila to unite its diverse people.

He also added that the goals of the national heroes must be continued in the fight against corruption, poverty, and other issues that are still plaguing the nation. “We have the shared goals of protecting the entire Indonesian people, promoting public welfare, improving the nation’s intellect, and participating in world peace. Those were the promise during the 1945 Proclamation [of Independence] until today,” he said.

Writer        : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Nur R.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 11/14/2022 11:05 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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