Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during National Zikr and Prayer for the 77th Anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence, at the Merdeka Palace’s forecourt, Jakarta, August 1, 2022

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Honorable Bapak Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Bapak Prof. KH. Ma’ruf Amin;

Honorable ulemas, habaibs, clerics attending this event, and religious figures;

Honorable Ministers of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet;

Ladies and gentlemen,

Alhamdulillahi rabbil ’alamin, we should be grateful that this evening, we could commemorate the month of the independence, the 77th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence.

I think the Vice President has just explained a lot about the enjoyment of independence. This is the benefit of having Pak Kiai Ma’ruf Amin as the vice president. Thank you Pak Kiai, the tausiah (religious messages) is very clear, so I do not have to repeat it again.

However, I need to remind all of us that the world is currently not in a good condition. After almost two and a half year, the world, people in all countries have been ill at the same time due to COVID-19 pandemic. And when the recovery was about to begin, something unexpected came up suddenly. The recovery is not fully done yet, then the war in Ukraine occurs. So, all countries have been hit constantly and experiencing difficulties. Almost all countries nowadays are in a very difficult situation.

We should be grateful, alhamdulillah, when fuel price in other countries have currently reached Rp32,000 or Rp31,000, pertalite price in Indonesia remains at Rp7,650. However, bear in mind that the fuel price subsidy is very costly, from around Rp170 trillion, now it has reached up to Rp502 trillion. Any other country could not support such a large amount of subsidy. However, once again, alhamdulillah, we are still capable of supporting it until now. We should be grateful for this.

It also goes the same with food. Food in other countries have been increasing to 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent. Why is it so? The people who consume wheat, be it in Asia, Africa, or Europe, especially the people who consume wheat daily, are having a very tough time. Because the wheat’s price is becoming expensive and it is out of stock. Why is it out of stock? Why is wheat in short supply?

At that time, I visited Ukraine and met with President Zelenskyy. He told me that Ukraine has the stock, 22 million tons stock is in storage, 55 million tons stock is in harvesting process. It means that there are 77 million tons of wheat stock that cannot be exported due to the war. I was having a conversation for an hour and a half with President Zelenskyy. Travelling by train from Poland to Kyiv, Ukraine, for 12 hours, and then headed back to Poland for 12 hours.

Then, I visited Moscow and met with President Putin. He told me that Russia has 130 million tons of wheat stock. It means that Ukraine and Russia have totally 207 million tons of wheat stock. Not 207 tons, but 207 million tons. This has caused 330 million people in hunger. And maybe in another six months, it could be 800 million people suffering acutely from hunger and famine due to food shortage.

Once again, alhamdulillah in Indonesia, we can still find rice and its price does not increase at all. We should be grateful for this. It is due to all of your hard works, due to our joint cooperation.

Then, food and energy crises have emerged. In all countries, gas price soars up to five-fold rise, and fuel oil price surges to two-fold rise. Almost all countries are experiencing these problems, not only small countries, not only big countries, not only rich countries, not only poor countries, but all countries are having the same experience. Therefore, the third crisis emerges, which is the financial crisis. Some countries with poor financial condition have collapsed because they do not have cash to purchase energies (fuel oil and gas) or food.

Let us pray together, do zikr together to beseech Allah SWT to bless our country with abundant food and energy, and to not let us run out of it. Together we strengthen our efforts, so we have abundant supply and can help other countries that are having difficulties at the moment

That concludes my remarks.

Thank you.

I conclude here.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(AW/LW)