"To become heroes of the nation at present, anyone must not fight with weapons. Instead, whatever they can do to strengthen the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and they do not do any wrongdoing that may harm national unity," he said.
Among the harmful wrongdoings were spreading fake news and violent extremism, and trading addictive drugs, he said in his speech delivered at a celebration to commemorate this year's National Heroes Day in Madiun, East Java, on Sunday.
Gaining momentum of the National Heroes Day, Maidi encouraged Madiun's residents, including members of the city's young generation, to become heroes of the nation by joining the war on drug, fake news, and violent extremism.
"Do not let irresponsible people disrupt the unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.
The National Heroes Day is commemorated to honor those falling in the heroic Battle of Surabaya, East Java, on November 10, 1945. Two days prior to November 10, as part of the government's annual programs for commemorating the National Heroes Day, President Joko Widodo granted the national hero titles to six figures.
The six figures are Ruhana Kudus from West Sumatra, Sultan Himayatuddin Oputa Yii Ko from Southeast Sulawesi, Prof. M. Sardjito from Yogyakarta, Abdoel Kahar Moezakir from Yogyakarta, Alexander Andries (AA) Maramis from North Sulawesi, and KH Masykur from East Java.
Regarding this year's National Heroes Day, President Joko Widodo led a commemorative event at the Kalibata National Heroes Memorial Park in South Jakarta to honor Indonesia's fallen heroes.
In Surabaya, East Java, Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro also commemorated the National Heroes Day along with members of the academic community of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) during which he encouraged young Indonesians to keep the spirit of National Heroes Day alive in the hearts and minds by harnessing the spirit of innovation. "The spirit of our National Heroes Day must be filled by all children of the nation with the spirit of innovation," he said.
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Translator: Louis RS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
