People\u2019s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Ahmad Muzani delivered\na speech at the 2026 MPR Annual Session and Joint Session of the\nDPR-DPD. During the occasion, Muzani emphasised that democracy must\nremain responsible and free from insults among fellow citizens.<\/p>\n
\"This republic was able to stand not because of abundant wealth, nor\nbecause of international support that was available from the start, but\nbecause of the strength of a united people who believe that Indonesia is\na shared home worth fighting for. Unity causes progress; if unity\nweakens, this nation\u2019s energy will be exhausted on mutual suspicion and\nmutual negation,\" Muzani said in his speech at the parliamentary complex\nin Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (14\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
Muzani assessed that freedom of expression must be conveyed with good\ncharacter. \"We have chosen the path of democracy. In managing\naspirations and differing views, we may have different opinions, but\nthose differences must be conveyed with good character and good\nlanguage,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The senior Gerindra Party politician stressed that democracy will not\nbecome stronger if the people engage in mutual disparagement. Muzani\nencouraged freedom of speech accompanied by argumentation.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy will not become stronger because we are harsher in our\ninsults. Democracy will become strong if freedom of speech is\naccompanied by responsibility, if freedom of expression is delivered\nwith argumentation, and if differences are not used as an excuse for\nhumiliation,\" he stated.<\/p>\n
Muzani then spoke about the public sphere, which must not be filled\nwith degrading language. He argued that political differences should not\nbe filled with division.<\/p>\n
\"We must not allow the public sphere to be filled with language that\ndegrades human dignity. We should not let political differences ruin\nfriendships, divide families, and sow hatred among fellow children of\nthe nation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The MPR Annual Session and Joint Session of the DPR-DPD was also\nattended by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran\nRakabuming Raka. In addition, Indonesia\u2019s 7th President Joko Widodo\n(Jokowi), 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK), 11th Vice\nPresident Boediono, and 13th Vice President Ma\u2019ruf Amin were also\npresent.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the general chairpersons of political parties attended,\nincluding NasDem Chairman Surya Paloh, PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar\n(Cak Imin), PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan, Democrat Chairman Agus\nHarimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), and Golkar Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia.<\/p>\n
Also in attendance were MPR Vice Chairpersons Eddy Soeparno, Bambang\nWuryanto, and Rusdi Kirana; DPR Vice Chairpersons Sufmi Dasco Ahmad,\nSaan Mustopa, and Sari Yuliati; as well as the wife of the late former\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid, Sinta Nuriyah, and his daughter, Yenny\nWahid.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto,\nCoordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno,\nForeign Minister Sugiono, Trade Minister Budi Santoso, Villages Minister\nYandri Susanto, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, Women\u2019s\nEmpowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi, Religious\nAffairs Minister Nassarudin Umar, Social Affairs Minister Saiful Yusuf,\nState Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Rini Widiyantini, and\nCommunication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid were also present.<\/p>\n
The session was also attended by Constitutional Court Chief Justice\nSuhartoyo, Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, Head of the Presidential\nCommunication Office M. Qodari, Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung\nAbdurrahman, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and\nIndonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muzani-public-sphere-must-not-be-filled-with-language-that-degrades-human-dignity-1786679595", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }