Iwan Koswara Emphasises Importance of Practising Pancasila Values

The commemoration of Pancasila Sanctity Day on 1 October serves as a momentum to remember the importance of unity within society. Iwan Koswara, a member of Commission V of the West Java DPRD, stated that the values of Pancasila must be present in daily life, rather than merely being memorised or used as slogans.

According to Iwan, Pancasila holds a vital position as a common foundation for the Indonesian people, who possess diverse backgrounds, views, and choices. These differences, he noted, should not serve as a reason for estrangement.

“Pancasila is not just to be spoken, but must be felt in our lives. How we respect others, practice mutual cooperation (gotong royong), and resolve problems together,” Iwan said on Thursday (1/10/26).

He assessed that this spirit is increasingly important amidst the development of social media. The public can now easily express opinions while simultaneously receiving various pieces of information from numerous sources.

This condition, according to Iwan, needs to be balanced with an attitude of mutual respect. Differences of opinion should not be immediately regarded as conflict.

“Do not let different views lead us to consider others as opponents. Democracy indeed provides space for difference, but unity must remain our guiding principle,” he remarked.

Iwan also reminded that the practice of Pancasila can begin within one’s closest environment. He believes that families, schools, and local communities play a role in forming habits of respecting others and caring for the common interest.

He expressed hope that Pancasila Sanctity Day would not merely be commemorated through ceremonial activities. The momentum should serve as an opportunity to reflect on the extent to which Pancasila values have been implemented in societal life.

“The most important thing is not how often we recite Pancasila, but how far we implement its values,” said Iwan.

As a member of the West Java community, he invited citizens to maintain a conducive atmosphere and not be easily influenced by issues that could fracture unity. In his view, differences are a part of national life that must be managed with maturity.

“If we can respect one another and are willing to cooperate, that is where Pancasila truly lives within society,” he concluded.