Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of Nasdem Party, 11 November 2021, at Bela Negara Campus, DKI Jakarta Province
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished Chairperson of Nasdem Party Surya Paloh and members of the Party’s Central Executive Board and Regional Executive Board, the Party’s Members throughout the country.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last Friday, I just returned from a-week-official visit to attend the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, followed by the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, and I also visited the United Arab Emirates to enhance our relationship with neighboring countries.
On those meetings, I felt something different that I’ve never felt in the previous summits. There were many requests for bilateral meeting from several countries attending the event.
Secondly, there also many countries, big countries that approached me in a sudden when I was siting or standing. The head of countries came to me. What’s going on? That are the differences.
However, the more important thing is an honor to hold the G20 Presidency. We will organize the G20 Summit in Indonesia, in Bali island and some other cities. For one year, starting 1 December 2021 until November 2022, we will hold approximately 150 meetings on finance, climate, and digital economy in Indonesia.
For the record, Indonesia is the first developing country to hold the G20 Presidency. Therefore, we must make use of the strategic position given our position is on par with developed countries. We must find ways to maximize, utilize the position for the sake of national interests.
I need to remind you that Indonesia is a great country because we often forget about that. After holding the G20 Presidency, we will also assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in October or November 2022. Once again, our country is great, Indonesia is a great country with great history. We want to seize this opportunity to contribute to the global policies in many sectors.
I feel really sad when other countries respect us, praise us, and think highly of us but we don’t. That makes me down. In fact, those positions both the chairmanships of G20 and ASEAN should make Indonesia a respected country and our people can also feel it, the honor. I also want all citizens to be respected wherever they are by people from other countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Honorable Chairperson,
I don’t want inferiority and colonial mentality internalized in our people. We act like we meet celebrities when meeting bule (white foreigners). We often think highly of them though all of us are human too.
I understand that Indonesia was colonialized for 350 years. I am thinking that the colonialization was too long that we developed such DNA, please stop it. We have gained our independence 76 years ago through long struggle, not given. I still think of that DNA; what if our colonial mentality and inferior mentality were passed on by our ancestors since we were colonialized for 350 years. Please don’t clap.
For that reason, we must build, – as mentioned by Surya Paloh -, we must build confidence, build self-confidence and optimism as a leading nation. We must not lose our orientation and that is the movement of change, a restoration. Colonial mentality and inferior mentality must be scraped from our lives. You should not internalize those mentalities. We must remember that we have rich cultural heritage from our ancestors.
Once again, the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was not given; it’s the result of long struggle. Therefore, I’ve mentioned that we are rich in cultural heritage and moral values. In my opinion, those are very important to strengthen national identity and character. Don’t lose our values, moral values, to pass on our local customs for a better life. We have diverse arts and culture; those are our strength.
After developing massive infrastructure, we focus on developing human resources and their capacity as our foundation to advance the nation.
That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion. Once again, happy 10th anniversary for Nasdem Party. May God the Almighty always bless us and the Chairperson with grace and guidance.
I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (RAS/MMB)