MPR Member Opens Four Pillars Quiz in Southwest Papua, Stresses Unity

MPR RI member from the Golkar Party faction, Robert Joppy Kardinal, opened the MPR RI Four Pillars Quiz Competition (LCC) at the Southwest Papua provincial level at the Aimas Convention Centre, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, today. Robert stressed that the MPR Four Pillars LCC is not merely a competition, but a means to build national spirit, understand the nation’s noble values, and practise them in daily life.

Regarding the understanding and implementation of the MPR Four Pillars values, Robert assessed that participants in Papua must hold on to two things. Firstly, an expression that lives within Papuan society, namely ‘one furnace, many stones’. This expression illustrates the importance of mutual support in community life. ‘Indonesia was founded not because of similarities, but because of an agreement to live in diversity. Differences in ethnicity, language, customs, culture, and religion actually strengthen national unity in accordance with the values of the MPR RI Four Pillars,’ he explained.

Secondly, Robert invited the younger generation to emulate the struggle of national heroes, including the Papuan hero Frans Kaisiepo. ‘His courage in raising the red and white flag in Papua elevated the nation’s dignity and the hope for unity and the aspiration for all the nation’s children to live in a free, sovereign, just, and prosperous country,’ he asserted. He believes that participants who can combine the philosophical values of Papuan society with the exemplary conduct of national heroes will grow into future leaders of character who love Indonesia.

Robert added that the MPR Four Pillars LCC is a national investment amidst the currents of globalisation and the development of information technology that have the potential to erode nationalism. He therefore invited all participants to continue learning, uphold honesty, and carry the good name of Southwest Papua to the national level. He also reminded them of the importance of loving their home region as the first step to loving Indonesia, and of maintaining brotherhood and unity as the main capital for building the nation.

Robert revealed that the 2026 MPR Four Pillars LCC is a series of national competitions involving all provinces in Indonesia. The activity, which began on 31 March 2026, is part of efforts to instil the values of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in the younger generation. The best team from each province will compete in the grand final in Jakarta in August 2026.

The Southwest Papua provincial final involved nine senior high schools and equivalent institutions from across the province. The nine schools are SMAN 3 Kota Sorong, SMAS Averos Kota Sorong, MAN Kota Sorong, SMAN 2 Kabupaten Sorong, SMAN 5 Kabupaten Sorong, SMK Muhammadiyah Aimas Kabupaten Sorong, SMKN 1 Kabupaten Sorong, SMAN 2 Kota Sorong, and SMKN 2 Sorong.

Also in attendance were MPR RI member from the DPD RI group for the Southwest Papua electoral district, Paul Finsen Mayor, Head of the Southwest Papua Provincial Education Office, Adolof Kambuaya, Head of the Bureau for Deliberation and Constitutional Dissemination of the MPR RI Secretariat General, Dr. Wachid Nugroho, and accompanying teachers from the participating schools. The jury panel included Dr. Nursalim, Dr. Firman, and Yoga Andriyan, all lecturers from the Muhammadiyah University of Education in Sorong.