Speaker of the MPR Opens Constitutional Archives Exhibition, Highlighting Challenges Faced by Nation's Founders

The Speaker of the MPR RI, Ahmad Muzdeen, explained that following the proclamation of independence, the nation’s founders faced immense challenges in establishing various state apparatuses. These included the constitution, representative institutions, the armed forces, the police, the education system, as well as a national currency and a central bank.

He shared these remarks today during the opening of the Constitutional Archives Exhibition, a collaborative effort between the MPR RI, the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI), and Pitaloka, held at the MPR RI Press Conference room, Nusantara IV Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta.

According to Muzani, the issues faced by the Indonesian nation at that time were far more complex. As a newly independent nation, Indonesia had to immediately build state apparatuses that were previously non-existent.

“The problem for the Indonesian nation as an independent country was not merely declaring itself independent. There was a need for armed forces, police, and the necessity of having our own currency and central bank, which did not exist at that time,” Muzani stated in a written statement on Tuesday (1/9/2026).

Furthermore, the Indonesian people also faced the need to build a national education system and representative institutions as vital components of the democratic process. All these apparatuses had to be constructed under conditions of extreme scarcity and emergency.

Muzani explained that on 29 August 1945, the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) was formed. The existence of the KNIP was a crucial part of the history of Indonesia’s representative institutions and served as the precursor to the MPR.

“On 29 August 194 and 29 August subsequently became the birthday of the MPR, because the KNIP is the precursor to the MPR. Within the KNIP, various issues necessary for the Indonesian nation as an independent country were discussed,” he clarified.

The Constitutional Archives Exhibition provides an overview of the various thoughts and debates held by the nation’s founders in determining Indonesia’s future direction. The displayed archives serve as an important source for understanding the journey of Indonesia’s constitutional governance through the ages.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary of Bappenas, Teni Widuriyanti; the Acting Principal Secretary of ANRI, Rini Agustina; and the Deputy for Archive Rescue, Preservation, and Protection of ANRI, Mira Puspita Rini. Also present were the Acting Secretary General of the MPR RI, Siti Fauziah; the Deputy of Administration of the MPR RI, Heri Herawan; and several officials from the MPR RI Secretariat General.

On this occasion, Muzani also received the Source Manuscript of the MPRS of the Republic of Indonesia, presented by the initiator of the Constitutional Archives Exhibition, Archive Ambassador, and MPR Member from the PDI Perjuangan Faction, Rieke Diah Pitaloka.

“This exhibition demonstrates the fact that an Indonesia that was severely lacking was managed with great sincerity. For all the efforts and hard work of Ms Rieke from 2013 until now, we express our immense gratitude and appreciation. Presenting over 4,000 pages of data is no easy feat, even though it is only a small part of our journey as a nation,” he said.

He assessed that the archived pages on display are not merely old documents. These archives are a record of the Indonesian nation’s journey in building and conducting state life.

“This Constitutional Archives Exhibition serves as evidence that Indonesia is a democratic nation. Indonesia is a nation that, in every process and as years pass, possesses its own spirit of the era,” he said.

Muzani added that the trajectory of national development thinking can also be seen through the displayed constitutional and state archives. National development patterns were once designed through the National Development Council (Depernas), which later evolved into the Broad Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN) during the New Order era.

“The GBHN no longer exists, and the MPR is currently designing the National Development Policy (PPHN) to serve as the pattern for our national development in the future,” Muzani concluded.

The Constitutional Archives Exhibition is expected to serve as a space for public education to rediscover the journey of the constitution, state institutions, and the dynamics of national thought that shaped Indonesia as a democracy.

The public can observe that Indonesia’s constitutional journey was built through a long process of debate, thought, and the endeavours of the nation’s founders, which remains relevant for study by present and future generations.