Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening of 4th Congress of Alumni Association of the Indonesian National Student (PA GMNI), 6 December 2021, at the State Palace, Jakarta
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
May peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished Chairperson of the Congress of Alumni Association of the Indonesian National Student (PA GMNI), Ahmad Basarah, and the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the PA GMNI,
Distinguished Honorary Board, Ideology Board, Advisory Board, and Expert Board of the PA GMNI,
Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet,
Distinguished Governor of West Java and Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda),
Distinguished alumni of the GMNI,
Esteemed Guests,
It is my pleasure to greet members of the GMNI alumni association from all corners of the country on the 4th Congress of Alumni Association of the Indonesian National Student.
Merdeka (Freedom)!
As home for the nationalists and marhaenists, the PA GMNI must stand at the front line in fostering nationalism based on state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution to strengthen unity and integrity of the nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Amid the openness in global interaction and high disruption, nationalism and sovereignty must be maintained to face new challenges. Sovereignty is not only a matter of fights against colonizers. Sovereignty does not mean isolating the country from the world. It does not mean isolating ourselves. In fact, sovereignty means we can make the greatest benefits for our people, the nation, the state in the increasingly open world by enhancing interaction with other countries.
Globalization wave is inevitable. It is not only a matter of physical mobility among countries which is more intense. It is also not only a matter of goods and money mobility which are simpler, but also mobility of ideas and knowledge which are more intense due to digitalization.
Consequently, globalization has created a world of hyper competition that is full of extremely tough competitions. Therefore, winning competitions is one main pillar to maintain sovereignty. We must win competitions both in the domestic and the global arena. We must surpass other countries and outrun them in this increasingly competitive world.
Distinguished Alumni,
We must fight for sovereignty through new ways. In order to surpass other countries, we cannot use the same steps previously used by many developed countries. To outrun other trains, we cannot use the same track. To outrun other countries, we cannot use the same way.
We must find new ways, find new tracks. We cannot use the same steps used by developed countries. In fact, it is impossible to surpass them. Thus, taking a step is not enough. In fact, we must make a huge leap of progress. If we cannot do it, we cannot outrun other countries that are more advanced than us. We must become a trendsetter, instead of a follower.
To that end, we must maintain sovereignty though innovation, through the mastery of knowledge and technology. The fourth industrial revolution has disrupted layers of society. COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to take a temporary break and find new ways and norms. The two disruptions should be seen as opportunities for us, opportunities to be seized.
When the world is slowing down, we still must move forward. When other countries impose lockdown, we make efforts to keep the pandemic under control and stimulate economic recovery. We are among five countries that are able to keep the COVID-19 pandemic under control at Level 1, reflecting the capacity of Indonesia to face challenges by joining hands to face it and taking it as an opportunity.
Indonesia’s G20 presidency, which has just begun, must be used for our benefits. It is a momentum to show the world Indonesia’s chairmanship at international stage, Indonesia’s leadership to make contribution to the world, and Indonesia’s interest to fight for developed countries.
Such fight has a similar spirit with that of Bung Karno when he supported the independence of many countries that were still in the grip of colonialization. Such fight has similar spirit with that of Bung Karno when he led Asian and African countries. Today, we lead the most prosperous countries to create a better world which is fair for all and for the future.
I am looking forward to your contribution in the Indonesia’s chairmanship to generate progressive ideas, to generate ideas that will advance the nation, enhance partnership, and give inputs to face global challenges and play a part in drawing up broad strategies to develop the state that upholds the values of Pancasila.
That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.
By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I hereby declare the 4th Congress of Alumni Association of the Indonesian National Student open.
Merdeka!
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Om santi santi santi om.
(RAS/EP)