Why 1 June Is a Public Holiday for Pancasila Day: Its History and Establishment
However, many people still wonder why 1 June is a public holiday for the Birthday of Pancasila and how its designation was established. This is tied to Indonesia’s long constitutional history and the applicable legal provisions.
The Birth of Pancasila on 1 June 1945
According to official statements from the Agency for the Development of Pancasila Ideology (BPIP) of the Republic of Indonesia, historically, the idea of Pancasila as the state’s foundational philosophy was first presented to the public on 1 June 1945. At that moment, Ir. Sukarno, then a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK), introduced the idea.
BPUPK, chaired by dr. KRT Radjiman Wedyodiningrat, held its first session from 29 May to 1 June 1945, with the main agenda of discussing the basis of the state. Sukarno’s speech on 1 June 1945 was adopted by acclamation by all members of BPUPK.
This historic moment became the starting point or cradle of the birth of the state philosophy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Nevertheless, the process of endorsing Pancasila did not happen instantly. The Pancasila ideas presented by Sukarno at the BPUPK session were drafted into the Jakarta Charter by the Nine-member Committee on 22 June 1945.
Before the Indonesian Independence Preparatory Committee (PPKI) session began, there was a crucial agreement to change the formulation of the first principle in the Jakarta Charter to the phrase “Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa” (Belief in One God, the One and Only). The final formulation of Pancasila was officially endorsed by PPKI as the state’s basis at its session on 18 August 1945.
The Establishment of 1 June as a Public Holiday
Before there was a provision regarding the Birthday of Pancasila, the government had already designated 18 August as Constitution Day through Presidential Decree Number 18 of 2008.
To complete Indonesia’s constitutional history in full, it was considered necessary to officially establish the day of birth of Pancasila. This effort is important so that Pancasila may continue to be applied in state life and its preservation safeguarded from generation to generation.
Therefore, the government issued a special regulation on the Birthday of Pancasila. The provision is regulated through Presidential Decree Number 24 of 2016 signed by President Joko Widodo.
Under this decree, the government sets two key determinations:
First, to designate 1 June 1945 as the Birthday of Pancasila
Second, that 1 June is officially designated and applied as a public holiday