On Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, Golkar stresses unity in facing national challenges
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Said Aldi Al Idrus, Head of the Youth and Sports Division of the Golkar Party Central Executive Board (DPP) and Chairman of the Golkar Party Young Force (AMPG), has stressed the importance of maintaining national unity and integrity amid the various challenges facing Indonesia.
He also emphasised that the independence fought for by the nation’s heroes must be safeguarded from generation to generation.
“Independence is not merely a historical event that we commemorate every 17 August. Independence is a trust that we must protect and fight for from generation to generation,” Said Aldi said in a written statement in Jakarta on Monday.
Said Aldi made the remarks while serving as ceremony inspector for the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia at the Golkar Party DPP headquarters in Jakarta on Monday. The ceremony was attended by all of Golkar’s youth wing organisations.
According to Said, the younger generation bears a great responsibility to continue the struggle of their predecessors.
If the struggle of the past was to expel colonialists, the challenge for today’s generation is to maintain unity while confronting changing times with knowledge, creativity, achievement, integrity and strong character.
“Young people are not merely the nation’s successors. Young people are the nation’s strength today and Indonesia’s leaders of the future,” he said.
In addition to delivering his message of unity, Said invited all ceremony participants to pray for the communities affected by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Sumatra. A collective prayer was held before the ceremony concluded.
“Before I close this address, from the grounds of the Golkar Party we express our condolences over the disaster in NTT. Following the directive of the Golkar Party DPP Chairman, Mr Haji Bahlil Lahadalia, today we together send prayers to our brothers and sisters in NTT,” Said said.
He invited Muslim participants to recite Al-Fatihah, while participants of other faiths were invited to pray according to their respective beliefs. The prayers were offered for the disaster victims in NTT and Sumatra.
Beyond praying for the victims, AMPG has also deployed a humanitarian team to assist communities affected by the disaster in NTT.
Said said the move was carried out under the direction of Golkar Party DPP Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia so that Golkar cadres and wing organisations could provide direct benefits to the public.
“Alhamdulillah, our disaster team from AMPG has been on the ground since yesterday and, together with the authorities, has been helping our brothers and sisters in NTT,” he said.
Said said the AMPG team brought food aid and deployed personnel to assist with the evacuation process.
According to him, the presence of Golkar cadres at the disaster site is part of the spirit of filling independence through service to the community.
“It does not always have to be something big. Honesty is a struggle, hard work is a struggle, learning is a struggle, achieving is a struggle, serving the community is a struggle, maintaining Indonesian unity is a struggle,” Said said.
He closed his address by inviting all Golkar cadres and wing organisations to use the 81st Independence Day anniversary as a moment to strengthen their commitment to safeguarding the nation’s integrity while working together to help communities facing adversity.
“With the spirit of independence, let us strengthen our resolve: a sovereign Indonesia, a just Indonesia, a prosperous Indonesia,” he said.