What (we) need to be careful about is the potential of individualism, communism, intolerance, separatism, radicalism, terrorism, and ethnonationalism arising amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bambang Soesatyo of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has alerted the public to several threats, including terrorism, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the opening of the annual session of MPR at the parliamentary building complex, Soesatyo pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic had several impacts on the economy, including the spike in unemployment, poverty, and economic gaps that might lead to other issues.

"What (we) need to be careful about is the potential of individualism, communism, intolerance, separatism, radicalism, terrorism, and ethnonationalism arising amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he emphasized.

Soesatyo suggested that vaccination must be conducted in line with the ideology, so that the public's ideology is upheld apart from literal vaccination to help the body fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Soesatyo admitted that he and all members of the People's Consultative Assembly were vaccinating the people in line with the Pancasila state ideology. Such act was conducted through raising awareness of the Four Pillars of People's Consultative Assembly, comprising Pancasila as the nation's ideology, 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia as the nation's Constitution, republic as the form of the nation, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika as the nation's collective motto.


Related news: President Jokowi proud of dedication, hard work of doctors, nurses


The MPR viewed that reinforcement of the ideology will prevent the nation from doom caused by internal and external threats.

"With the storm (that is) COVID-19, it should instead reinforce the strength of Indonesia's ideology. COVID-19 not only presents a challenge but also an opportunity to rise up and adapt to the newest dynamics, situation, and condition," Soesatyo affirmed.

Currently, the National Police Force's Detachment 88 Team (Densus 88) is conducting operations to prevent and act on various terror acts all over the country.

Related news: Government has striven continually to secure vaccine supplies: Jokowi

The Detachment 88 team apprehended 41 people suspected of conducting terror acts since the operation commenced on Thursday, August 12, 2021.

Some 41 people comprised six from North Sumatra; three from Jambi seven from Lampung; five each from Banten and West Java; 10 from Central Java; two from East Kalimantan; and one each from Central Sulawesi, Maluku, and West Kalimantan.

For the time being, it was confirmed that they were members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a terrorist group, except for those from East Kalimantan.

The MPR, the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) gathered together for the annual session at the here on Monday from 8:30 to 12:00 local time.


Related news: Jokowi highlights Indonesia's high and lows in pursuit of independence

Related news: Densus 88 arrests four terrorist suspects in Banten and West Java

Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021