"Resilient Indonesia, Advancing Indonesia,” the theme of the Independence Month this year, can only be manifested through openness and readiness to change in facing a world full of disruptions,” he said here Monday.
The goal can only be achieved if all elements of the nation work hand-in-hand toward one shared goal, he noted during the State of the Nation Address at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and Joint Session of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and the House of Representatives (DPR) at the 76th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
Jokowi believes in building resilience to face the pandemic and the tests that the nation will be facing in order to ensure continued growth and to fulfill the nation’s aspirations.
“May Allah, the Almighty, always bless and ease the endeavors of the Indonesian nation towards an Advanced Indonesia that we aspire to be,” he affirmed.
The president also took cognizance of the exhaustion, boredom, weariness, sadness, and distress that had emerged owing to the COVID-19 pandemic while acknowledging to criticism from several quarters directed at the government, especially on unresolved matters.
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"Constructive criticism is crucial, and we always respond to it by fulfilling our responsibilities as expected by the people. I would like to thank the nation’s children, who have become active citizens and continuously build a democratic culture,” he emphasized.
At the annual State of the Nation Address, the president wore a traditional Baduy Tribe outfit, while Vice President Ma’ruf Amin was seen in traditional attire of the West Sulawesi Mandar tribe.
The annual event, held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented strict health protocols that included limiting the number of participants. Several other prominent figures were present at the scene, including DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, DPD Speaker LaNyalla Mattalitti, Head of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Firman Sampurna, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Muhammad Syarifuddin, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman, and Chief of the Judicial Commission Mukti Fajar Nur Dewanta.
The government’s four coordinating ministers as well as several other ministers and the cabinet secretary also participated directly along with chiefs of the National Military and Police Forces.
Meanwhile, other prominent political figures attended the event virtually, including former presidents and vice presidents and 540 members of the House of Representatives, 124 members of the DPD, 103 ambassadors/representatives of other countries, and 34 governors from all Indonesian provinces.
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Translator: Indra AP, Aria Cindyara
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
