Indonesia Announces June 1, the Birthday of the State Ideology of Pancasila, as Public Holiday

Bandung, 24 Sya’ban 1437/01 June 22016 (MINA) – Indonesia declared on Wednesday the commemoration day of its official philosophical foundation, known as Pancasila, as a public holiday starting next year.

President Joko Widodo announced the new national holiday in his speech during the commemoration day of the birth of the state philosophy at the Merdeka Building, here today.

“With the Presidential Decree, June 1 is now declared as a holiday and commemorated as the birth of the state ideology of Pancasila,” he said.

The president said the political ideology which was promulgated by Sukarno in June 1, 1945, two months before the declaration of Indonesian Inpendence, has helped the nation to overcome challenges in the current competitive era.

He said Pancasila, which consists of five principles, has been the strong pillar for the country’s tolerance and diversity.

The speech was then followed by the signing of the decree, which was witnessed by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri who is also the Sukarno’s daughter, House of Representatives speaker Ade Komarudin and a number of cabinet ministers. (T/R07/R01/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)