Be Confident, We Have Huge Potentials, President Jokowi Says in State Address

President Jokowi accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana poses for a group photo with the heads of State Institutions at the Nusantara Building of the House of Representatives Jakarta on Wednesday (16/8)

Indonesia is a big nation. Indonesia is big not only because of its population of more than 250 million people. Indonesia is big not because it has around 17,000 islands. Indonesia is big not only because of its abundant resources but it has stood the test of time and because it is able to remain united until we reach our 72^nd anniversary of independence.

The statements were made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the State Address on the Occasion of the 72^nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia Before the Joint Session of the Regional Representatives Council of the Republic of Indonesia and the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.

President Jokowi also said that Indonesia is a fighting nation who possesses the courage to fight with our own power to win our independence. We fought for our independence, thanks to the struggles of our heroes, clerics, Islamic students, religious leaders, and fighters from all across the nation.

This all gives us a sense of pride of Indonesia, our beloved country. This all too gives us confidence to face the future.

“We have to abandon the legacy of colonialism that bequeathed our nation a slave mentality, a character of inferiority, a character of cowardice, and persistent pessimism to look to the future,” the President added.

President Jokowi also asserted that we have to abandon those negative mentalities of scorning one another, mocking one another, and slandering one another because we are all brothers and sisters of the nation.

According to the President, we have to lay a strong cultural foundation. We have to remain united and stand tall to surmount global challenges that are increasingly complex, that are more extreme, and changing rapidly.

“Only a virtuous nation is capable of winning the global competition,” President Jokowi said adding that Indonesia once became a destination for other countries to study about Islam, art and cultures, science and technology and many others.

It is this pride that we will have to re-claim. It is the pride in our own creation and works and our own products.

Having Self-confidence is a must

As a big nation with the world’s largest Muslim population, with hundreds of ethnicities and thousands of islands, President Jokowi called on Indonesian people to have self-confidence to make progress, to keep up with other countries, and to bring all the glory.

“We have to believe in the strength of our own people. Evidence proved that we have been able to make great achievements,” the President firmly said adding that in the past, we were worried about the presence of foreign banks in our country, now, we are witnessing our national banks are able to compete with those banks and have become major and modern banks.

President Jokowi asserted that we have huge potentials, namely our young generations. Many of our young generations have become math, physics and biology olympic champions.

“Our young generations have showcased their accomplishments, such as becoming champions of the Qur’an memorisation competition, emerging triumphant in robotic works, making innovation in start-ups businesses, and being creative in arts in world stages. Many creative industries and national movie productions are driven by our young generation. These young people are getting more popular and their products are enjoyed by many,” the President said.

However, the Head of State called on people not be carried away by all these achievements. The President reminded all that we still have much to accomplish, and promises to deliver.

Also attending the Joint Session which was led by Speaker of Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Oesman Sapta were First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Ibu Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan, Heads, Deputy Heads, and Members of State Institutions, Working Cabinet Ministers and Heads of Non-Ministerial Government Institutions, the Third President of the Republic of Indonesia B.J. Habibie, the Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, former Vice President Try Sutrisno, former Vice President Boediono, Shinta Nuriyah Wahid, and Karlina Umar Wirahadikusuma.  

To see the State Address, click this link