National anthem a mandatory song

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