Chief Justice Anwar Usman attending the 2023 national Pancasila Day ceremony, Thursday (6/1/2023) at the National Monument (Monas) complex. Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — Chief Justice Anwar Usman and forty staff members of the Constitutional Court (MK) attended a national flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate Pancasila Day of 2023 on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at the south yard of the National Monument (Monas) complex in Jakarta, which was led by President Joko Widodo. Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono, Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo, interim Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, Chairman of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP) Yudian Wahyudi, as well as Chairman of the BPIP’s Steering Committee Megawati Soekarnoputri were in attendance.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said that amid the global crisis, Indonesia was among few countries that were able to maintain sociopolitical stability, controlled inflation, investment growth, and employment level.

“It is due to unity, hard work, and mutual cooperation that this nation has succeeded in tackling challenges and is gaining global trust. The foundation of all this is Pancasila’s ideology, the legacy of the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno, the ideology that we must continue to uphold to strengthen the nation’s progress,” he said before the ceremony’s participants.

The President underlined that the Government continues to strive for fair and equitable development that requires continuity and sustainability. The personnel in the administration may change, but the struggle must not stop. Justice, equity, and welfare are what we want to realize through structural reforms, improving the quality of human resources, downstreaming industries, and development of the new capital of Nusantara, he said.

“We aim to maximize the benefits of the country’s natural resources for the welfare of the people. We want people outside Java to also benefit significantly from the ongoing development. As a big country, the President said, Indonesia must be able to be at par with other nations, collaborate with any country, and bridge differences in the world,” the President emphasized.

He added that Indonesia strives to contribute to world peace amid volatile global geopolitics. Indonesia is expected to become a meeting point and bridge of differences and hold on to its principles and not to take sides with any certain forces. “This is Indonesia. No one can dictate us. No country can dictate to us. However, we are always ready to contribute to the world,” he stressed.

He said that the Pancasila ideology, which preaches tolerance, courage, and respect for differences, allows Indonesia’s leadership to be accepted and recognized by the world, proven by the country’s successful G20 presidency where even conflicting nations sat together to find peaceful solutions.

“We will also utilize Indonesia’s presidency of ASEAN to make ASEAN stronger, more united, and continue to become an anchor of regional peace and prosperity. This is proof that Pancasila is not only central to Indonesia, but is also relevant to the world,” he explained.

President Jokowi also said that tolerance, unity, and mutual cooperation are key to building a strong nation. “Therefore, I am calling on the Indonesian people to refuse extremism, identity and religious politicization, and all kinds of provocation. Let us welcome [the 2024 general election] with maturity and joy by upholding the values of Pancasila, striving for an advanced Indonesia that is fair, prosperous, and dignified on the world stage,” he emphasized.

The theme of the 2023 Pancasila Day was “Mutual Cooperation Builds Global Civilization and Growth.” The ceremony was attended by leaders of Indonesian ministries/agencies, TNI leaders, leaders of the National Police, leaders of Bank Indonesia, leaders of state-owned and region-owned enterprises (BUMN and BUMD), national figures, distinguished guests, as well as state civil apparatuses (ASN) of state institutions and ministries/agencies of the central government and the government of the Special Capital Region (DKI) of Jakart.

Author       : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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