Democratic Consolidation Agenda Must Be Completed: President

MPR serves as bridge for people`s aspirations, President Jokowi says.

Jakarta, MINA – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has laid emphasis on fulfilling the agenda of democratic consolidation in the political field.

“In the political field, we have to fulfill the agenda of consolidating democracy, so that we are more institutionalized. We are grateful to have been able to carry out the democratic process at the local level and the simultaneous regional head elections (pilkada) in 101 districts in 2017, safely and peacefully,” Antara News quoted President Jokowi as saying at the 2017 Annual Session of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday.

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On the occasion, the president said the Indonesian people should continue to strengthen the national consensus to maintain Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) , and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or Unity in Diversity.

“The government has initiated the establishment of the UKP-PIP (the Presidents Working Unit for Reinforcement of Pancasila Ideology) to disseminate the ideology of Pancasila across all layers of society, especially among the younger generation, our future successors,” he noted.

The president said in addition to ideological and political developments, the nation should not forget social and cultural development. To this end, it must educate the younger generation to become historical successors who love their homeland and have ethics, manners, and a strong character.

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“We also continue to build the culture of a multi-ethnic nation, and the expression of art and culture from various regions of the archipelago must be constantly promoted to enrich our Indonesia,” he remarked.

The MPR 2017 Annual Session was attended by former presidents: BJ Habibie and Megawati Soekarno Putri. Former vice presidents — Try Sutrisno and Boediono — attended the event.

Shinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman Wahid, the wife of 4th president Abdurrahman Wahid, and Karlina Wirahadikusumah, the wife of former vice president Umar Wirahadikusumah, also attended the event. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)