Fadli: Diversity is the strength and identity of the Indonesian nation

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has said that Indonesia’s cultural diversity serves as a reminder that the strength of national unity comes from all levels of society uniting and moving forward together.

“Our differences must be turned into our strength. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is not merely a slogan, but a commitment that differences must become a unifying force, not a reason to belittle or separate one another,” the Culture Minister said in Jakarta on Monday.

Within that diversity, Fadli continued, lies culture, which is both the root and the identity of the nation. It encompasses language, art, tradition, local wisdom, knowledge, mutual cooperation, and noble values passed down from generation to generation.

The spirit of struggle, he said, comes from all corners of the archipelago, with the intention of determining the nation’s own future. The Culture Minister therefore stressed that Indonesia’s independence is a historical mandate that must be safeguarded and fulfilled to the best of the nation’s ability.

Fadli emphasised that independence also reinforces the value of mutual cooperation.

The Ministry of Culture, together with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, held a joint flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day in the courtyard of the ministry offices.

The event also featured an orchestra and choir from SMK Musik Perguruan Cikini, collaborating with soloists who are winners of the Kita Cinta Lagu Anak (KILA) Indonesia programme, as well as Rimar Callista, winner of the eleventh season of Indonesian Idol in 2021, who performed “Hari Merdeka” composed by Husein Mutahar, “Indonesia Pusaka” by Ismail Marzuki, “Zamrud Khatulistiwa” by Guruh Soekarno Putra, and a medley of Nusantara songs.