Megawati urges Pancasila to be internalised and applied, not merely memorised
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s fifth president and PDI Perjuangan general chair, Megawati Soekarnoputri, has urged that Pancasila be internalised and applied in the life of the nation and state, rather than merely memorised.
“The five principles are starting to be forgotten, reduced to mere memorisation. This is what worries me,” said Megawati while speaking on Pancasila, Nationalism, Diversity, and Globalisation at the talkshow on Categorical Services for the Elderly Fellowship (Pelkat PKLU) at GPIB Paulus, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Megawati began her presentation by discussing the ideology of Pancasila and its current application.
To nearly 500 elderly congregants present at GPIB, Megawati also urged that Pancasila be internalised, not just memorised.
Megawati, who also serves as Chair of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), frequently linked her remarks to these two institutions.
Megawati called for the message of Pancasila to be conveyed to young people so that it continues to be championed and implemented for an eternal Indonesia.
On that occasion, Megawati also highlighted the need to express opinions while maintaining ethics and avoiding the bullying practices that have recently become rampant.
Megawati elaborated on Trisakti (politically sovereign, economically self-reliant, and culturally distinctive), as taught by Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno.
Megawati provided examples and its practices in the present day.
On the topic of diversity, Megawati described Indonesia’s situation after the Reformasi era in 1998, when the country experienced several significant social conflicts tinged with SARA (ethnicity, religion, race, and inter-group) elements, such as in Ambon, Poso, and Sampit.
In addition to explaining their resolution, both as Vice President and fifth President of Indonesia, Megawati said the Indonesian nation should learn lessons from those conflicts.
“I hope it doesn’t happen again,” stated Megawati.
Megawati also touched on local wisdom in resolving conflicts, such as Pela Gandong in Maluku.
Regarding global issues, Megawati recounted her meeting and dialogue with Pope Francis, where they discussed global warming. The two leaders emphasised the urgency of protecting the earth and its impact on humanity.
“I was invited to Pope Francis’s private residence at that time,” she said.
The woman born in Yogyakarta also mentioned the world’s condition following the attack on Iran. Some congregants shouted about the rising price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Megawati provided many examples of nationalism linked to the current global situation.
The daughter of Bung Karno responded to nationalism in a nearly borderless world and affirmed that nationalism cannot disappear.
Megawati advised Indonesians living abroad or who have lived abroad to continue upholding Eastern etiquette and Indonesian culture.
“Like a bird returning to its nest. Your nest is Indonesia, don’t forget,” said Megawati.
In another part, Megawati also urged vigilance regarding the development of artificial intelligence (AI).
Upon arriving at GPIB, Megawati, who was accompanied by PDIP politician Eriko Sotarduga, was welcomed by the Chair of the GPIB Paulus Jakarta Congregation Council, Pastor Johny Alexander Lontoh, and the PKLU Chair, Timbul Thomas Lubis.