Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Inauguration of the Surabaya Nusantara Student Dormitory (AMN) and the Launching of Construction of the Makassar and Manado AMN, in Surabaya City, East Java Province, November 29, 2022

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us,
Shalom,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.

Distinguished Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, present here Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Minister of Religious Affairs, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Cabinet Secretary;
Distinguished Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and Deputy Chief of the BIN;
Distinguished Deputy Governor of East Java Province and Mayor of Surabaya;
Distinguished Chairperson of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) along with leaders of PP Muhammadiyah.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, AMN students that I love and I am proud of.

I was beyond happy. When I entered the gate, the students seemed very optimistic. Their face looked so happy, bright, cheerful, and showed high optimism.

There are 410 students here from Sabang to Merauke, from Miangas to Rote Island. Everyone blends into one. Earlier, Chief of the BIN informed me that 40 percent of students come from Papua. The first proposal regarding the Nusantara Student Dormitory was submitted by 61 Papuan figures who came to the Palace, considering that many latent conflicts and friction among students. And if we noticed, in almost every province, almost in all educational cities, each province has a dormitory. Papua has its own dormitory and other provinces also have their own dormitory so we do not get along with each other.

We know this is a big country. We are a big nation. We have 714 different tribes, meaning that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Be careful. Indonesia’s diversity is a strength, not a weakness. If it is a weakness, it will be easy to be pitted against one another. If we unite, this is a strength. We can live in harmony.

To that end, I agreed to the proposal. I immediately agree to establish the AMN in required provinces, cities/regencies. For now, we build it in Surabaya, next in Manado, Makassar, Bantul, Malang, Jakarta, and other regions.

For what purpose? So that we get to know one another better. Papuan students can make acquaintance with Aceh students at the AMN. Those from Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara can get to know their brothers from Palembang. Those from Bangka Belitung can get to know students from Central Java, Yogyakarta, West Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. They will know each other.  Once again, we are a big nation, a big country.

This morning, I  attended the Dayak Cultural Festival. There, I noticed that there were Iban Dayak, Lawangan Dayak, Kayan Dayak, and Kanayatn Dayak. However, there are also 406 Dayak sub-tribes. Can you imagine? One Dayak tribe has 406 different sub-tribes, not to mention that we have 714 tribes. Imagine if we did not know each other.

It is the importance for the AMN, so we can get to know each other, understand each other’s cultural customs, and get along well because students living at the AMN will also be taught nationalism insights. Indeed, this is the objective of the establishment of the AMN.

In addition, we will provide students with scholarships, but the most important thing is that we get to know each other. Papuan students can make acquaintance with Batak students. Those from Java can get to know their brothers from Manado. Those from East Nusa Tenggara can get to know their Dayak relatives. Everyone will get to know each other. This is the big goal of the establishment of AMN.

I have also asked them one by one. Some of them come from Timika, right? And some come from Manokwari. They also come from Palembang and Manado. It really shows the diversity of Indonesia. In the future, if we get along in harmony, if we are united, this will become a great strength for our country, Indonesia.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.

And, by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon I inaugurate the Nusantara Student Dormitory in Surabaya, East Java province, as well as the Launching of Construction of the Nusantara Student Dormitory in Makassar and Manado.

Thank you,

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(RIF/LW)