National anthem a mandatory song

MALANG, East Java: All local government officials and leaders have been asked to order people attending public gatherings to sing the national anthem -- Indonesia Raya -- to mark the beginning of the events.

State Minister of Administrative Reform Feisal Tamin said that singing the national anthem would build people's nationalism.

"It is expected that everybody who attends such occasions will contemplate every line of the song... and help them build their nationalism and make them eager to sacrifice (themselves) for their country," Feisal said during his visit to the local office of state telecommunications company PT Telkom.

The national anthem is usually only sung on national days.

He called on Indonesians to look up to Malaysians who he said built strong nationalism by singing their national anthem at almost every special occasion.

However, due to the huge population, Indonesia might not easily adopt the new habit, Feisal said. --Antara