President Jokowi Reminds Public of Threats that could Undermine Our Democracy

President Jokowi attends the opening ceremony of the training of State Defense Academy of the NasDem Party, Sunday in Jakarta, Sunday (16/7).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reminded the public of the number of threats against the nation and the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). The Preisdent mentioned that such threats can be in the forms of ideology, politics, economy, and social culture.

President Jokowi asserted that the Government will not remain silent if there are efforts that could undermine and destroy our democracy. The Government is aware that the diversity and ideology of Pancasila owned by Indonesia is a gift that must be maintained. “If anyone still wants to reject Pancasila as the basis and ideology of the state and replace it with another ideology, shall we allow it? I confirm ‘no’,” the President firmly said at the opening of the training of State Defense Academy of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party, in Jakarta, Sunday (16/7) afternoon.

President Jokowi assured that the Government will continue to keep an eye on the threats in order to carry out the duties and functions of the state. “We will not allow either mass organizations or individuals who abuse the freedoms that have been given. The state must dare to control because it is the function of the state,” the President said.

The Government, the President further explained, gave space to the public who opposed the Government’s law products. Such space is a legal procedure given by the Government as a state law. “Whoever does not agree with the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Mass Organizations (ormas), please take the legal procedure. We are a state of law. We give space to those who disagree. Take legal procedure,” the President said while asserting that the Government wants the country to remain united.

The future, authority of the state, the President continued, cannot be undermined. “We do not let any party who wants to undermine the NKRI,” the President said.

All Responsibilities

On the occasion, the President also expressed his full support to the State Defense Academy (ABN) established by NasDem Party. Given the academy is one of the efforts to the embodiment of Article 27 paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution, which states that every citizen is entitled and obliged to participate in the efforts of state defense. “Such defense is the responsibility of all as children of the nation. Wherever we are, whatever our education, our profession are, be it the rich, the underprivileged, party cadres, activists, NGOs, sportsmen, culture-bearers, we all have rights, obligations, and equal opportunity to defend the country,” the President said.

Therefore, the President hopes the NasDem Party’s initiative can serve as an example for other elements of society. “I hope the NasDem Party’s initiative in establishing the Academy can also be followed by other parties, organizations, institutions, and by any elements of the nation who care about the survival of the nation and state of Indonesia in the future,” the President said.

Also present at the event were Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Setya Novanto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Attorney General Prasetyo, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Tito Karnavian, Member of the Presidential Advisory Board (Wantimpres) Sidarto Danusubroto, Governor of the National Resilience Institute Agus Widjojo, and Chairman of the NasDem Party Surya Paloh. (BPMI Setpres/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).