Jakarta (ANTARA) - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for consolidating the state's capacity to serve the people and face the crisis, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has given the Indonesian nation a wisdom that the crisis calls for consolidation of the state’s capacity to serve the people, to promote the well-being of the people, and realize an advanced Indonesia that we aspire to be," Jokowi said during his state address at the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and a joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Building Complex in Jakarta on Monday.

Support from everyone, specifically state institutions, is of the utmost importance, the President stressed.

Working smart and maintaining synergy between state institutions are key for ensuring a quick response to changes in the future, he added.

Checks and balances among state institutions are crucial for our governance system, he said.

However, collaboration, synergy, and willingness for sharing the burden and responsibilities are, in fact, more important for facing the pandemic, he added.

"I would like to thank state institutions, Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, including the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), for their consistent and productive support during this time," he stated.

The President also praised the MPR, DPR, and DPD for their contribution to the progress of the nation and the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While delivering the state speech in the context of submitting the Bill on the 2022 State Budget at the MPR annual session and the joint session of the DPR/DPD RI, President Widodo wore the traditional clothes of the Baduy tribe.

The meeting was held in both offline and online format. Based on the attendance list, 311 of the 363 legislative members attended the event.

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Translator: Rangga P, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
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