Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening of the 2023 Nusantara Cultural Harmony Festival, at Taruna Field, Sepaku, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, November 3, 2023

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
May peace be upon us all.

Distinguished Onward Indonesia Cabinet Ministers, including Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Minister of State Secretary, Minister of State-owned Enterprises in attendance,

Distinguished Governor of East Kalimantan, Regents and Mayors in attendance, Head of the Indonesia’s new capital of Nusantara (IKN) Authority,

Distinguished Sultans, religious figures, cultural figures, East Kalimantan’s cultural bearers and community, particularly the community of Sepaku district,

Distinguished Guests,

In the past three months, I have visited the IKN several times to lay the first stone of construction. As of today, five big hotels, four hospitals are currently being constructed in the IKN. In addition, international standard school, Indonesian Football Association (PSSI)’s training centers with eight football pitches, and two malls are also under construction in the IKN.

However, it is all about physical development. It’s all about physical development. In fact, we must prioritize human development, cultural preservation; conserve our nature. Do not let it be eroded by foreign culture.

Therefore, I highly appreciate the Nusantara Cultural Harmony Festival taking place this morning in Sepaku district. It is an opportunity to remind us all that our arts and culture are diverse and plural. We have around 714 ethnic groups. It means that we have to preserve and maintain the character and culture.

For that reason, for all the students here, raise your hands if you can memorize Pancasila. The students over there cannot be seen; are there any students among them that can memorize Pancasila? One student may come to the stage. I haven’t called one but there is a student who is running towards the stage. It’s okay. I cannot tell him to return.

Please introduce yourself.

Arya (Student)
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arya Martadi Suwirtanto from 017 State Elementary School, Sepaku.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What grade are you in?

Arya (Student)
Sixth grade.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What is your name?

Arya (Student)
Arya Martadi Suwirtanto.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What should I call you?

Arya (Student)
Arya.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Arya. A sixth grader whose school is in Sepaku, correct? Do you know names of the dances that were performed before? From which ethnic groups? There are many dances.

Arya (Student)
Borneo?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Borneo. What about the other dance performance beside that one of Borneo’s?

Arya (Student)
From Dayak?

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Dayak ethnic group. That’s correct. Back to the question on Pancasila, recite it. Pancasila, one…

Arya (Student)
Pancasila; one, belief in the One and Only God; Two, just and civilized humanity; Three, the unity of Indonesia; Fourth, democratic life led by wisdom of thoughts in deliberation amongst representatives of the people; Fifth, achieving social justice for all the people of Indonesia.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Do you want a bicycle as a present?

Arya (Student)
Yes, Sir.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Take one. It is not an ordinary bicycle. It can be exchanged with a car, because there is an inscription “A present from President Jokowi”. That makes it expensive.
Introduce yourself.

Ratu (Student)
My name is Zahratu Sita.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Zahratu Sita? What should I call you?

Ratu (Student)
Ratu.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Zahratu Sita, usually is called Ratu. Ratu, what grade are you in??

Ratu (Student)
Sixth grade.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Sixth grade. Pancasila, one…

Ratu (Student)
Pancasila; One, belief in the One and Only God; Two, just and civilized humanity; Three, the unity of Indonesia; Fourth, democratic life led by wisdom of thoughts in deliberation amongst representatives of the people; Fifth, achieving social justice for all the people of Indonesia.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Ratu, do you know names of the dances that were performed before? Which ethnic groups that gave dance performers earlier? Ah, you cannot watch it clearly from your seat. That’s fine. Can you mention two ethic groups in Kalimantan?

Ratu (Student)
East Kalimantan.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Not the province, the ethnic group. What is it?

Ratu (Student)
I don’t know.

Presiden Republik Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
You don’t know. That’s okay. You can take the bicycle since the question is on Pancasila, not ethnic group name.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

The IKN will be home to many people from various ethnicities and culture that will live side by side, including local communities who have been living in the IKN area for years and those who come from other regions.

With the IKN development, East Kalimantan will be a place where various cultures meet. We hope the people can have great interaction and live in harmony and can join hands in preserving, maintaining, and developing the nation’s culture including East Kalimantan’s culture.

Therefore, we need to raise collective awareness on the importance of mutual respect and respect for diversity, as well as the importance of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) as our capital to create harmony, togetherness, and unity.

That concludes my remarks. I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

 (RAS/LW)