Developing a national identity necessitates three elements: capability to maintain the tradition and legacy of the past, for instance, a mutual struggle or consensus; an understanding towards shared values; and, mutual pride as a nation
Batam (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore organized a webinar on ‘Wakening Indonesia’ to mark National Awakening Day with the aim of forging a national spirit amid the pandemic, particularly among the Indonesian diaspora.

Indonesians should make efforts and demonstrate a strong willingness to achieve the purposes of the nation and state as well as to create social justice for all Indonesian people, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, said at the webinar, held here on Thursday.

Education is playing an important role in attempts to help Indonesian people meet new challenges at the moment and to achieve the nation’s aspiration of independence, he added.

At the same event, Yudi Latif, a national alliance expert, pointed out that a country is considered capable of meeting its challenges, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, if it has a strong national identity.

A country can tackle distrust in the society and avoid the crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic if it raises collective awareness, he stressed.

“Developing a national identity necessitates three elements: capability to maintain the tradition and legacy of the past, for instance, a mutual struggle or consensus; an understanding towards shared values; and, mutual pride as a nation,” he explained.

As a nation, Indonesia is deemed a successful nation, he remarked.

For a country that is as large as a continent, Indonesia has united various races under a similar identity and similar language -- Bahasa Indonesia, he said.

Not every country possesses strength like Indonesia does, he remarked adding, a strong national capital can further strengthen Indonesia as a country.

Unfortunately, Indonesia’s social capital has not been optimally followed by state capital, since it was founded in 1945, he said. A country should be able to strengthen its institutions that can help the nation realize the aspirations of the founding fathers, he remarked. (INE)


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Translator: Juwita Trisna Rahayu
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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