President Jokowi: Children Must Have Sense of Pride in Their Nation

President Jokowi answers the press’ questions after receives the representatives of Indonesian top performing high school students at the Presidential Palace of Bogor, West Java, on Thursday (3/5). (Photo by: Public Relations/Agung).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Indonesia children must have a sense of pride in their nation.

The President made the statement after receiving representatives of Indonesian top performing high school students, Thursday (3/5) during which the President also showed them around the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, so they are can be gathered at Student Leadership Crater 2018.

“I told them earlier that this palace was built in 1745 and was once occupied by Governor-General Gustaaf Willem Baron Van Imhoff. I also told them that in this palace we have 450 deer, 13 goats, and others. I explain everything in detail,” the President said to the press.

For the record, those top performing students will join a special student gathering event called Kawah Kepemimpinan Pelajar.

Commenting the event, which is organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the President said: “(I hope) they can interact with other students from other provinces, districts, cities, ethnicities, and religions.”

The President also expressed his belief that the event is very important because through it, the students will be more aware of the fact that Indonesia is a plural country. He added that differences in traditions, customs, regional languages, ethnicities, and religions are a gift given by God to the nation of Indonesia.

“Everyone should be aware of that and it has to start from our children,” President Jokowi said.

In the meantime, related to Asian Games jacket the President, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi and Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy donned during the event, President Jokowi said, it was our joint responsibility to promote Asian Games, which will be held on 18 August 2018, and to make it success.

Therefore, the President invites everyone to together promote the Games.

“So, you may wear Asian Games shirts or Asian Games jacket, like me. Also, I will wear this jacket everywhere,” the President said, while expressing his hope that all ministers and people of Indonesia will promote the event as well. (FID/AGG/ES) (GWH/EP/Naster)