I appreciate MPR with its four-pillar program, which has consistently strengthened the state ideology Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Diversity in Unity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has praised members of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR), and Regional Representative Council (DPD) for contributing to efforts to support national development and COVID-19 handling.

“I appreciate MPR with its four-pillar program, which has consistently strengthened the state ideology Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Diversity in Unity,” he noted during his state-of-the-nation address at the annual session of the MPR and the joint session of the DPR and DPD at the Parliamentary Complex, here on Monday.

The head of state said MPR’s agenda to study the legal substance and model of state guideline principles to lay a basis for inter-leadership sustainable development is also worthy of praise.

He stressed that the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic requires extraordinary efforts. The government and the DPR have worked hard and built synergies to lay a legal foundation for the handling of COVID-19.

In addition, the government and DPR have ratified the Job Creation Law, Indonesia's first omnibus law, which serves as the main pillar for structural reform in the country, Jokowi said.

The DPR has continued to accommodate public aspirations and control the realization of the government’s programs through several innovations, he noted

In the meantime, the DPD has also taken an active part in the deliberations of bills, including those related to budgetary policy, and in supervising public services and the implementation of the village law, he added.

Through this role, it has contributed to the accurate handling of the pandemic and, at the same time, improved the institution of regional government for the future, the President said.

Efforts to save the people are the supreme law in the country, he remarked.

He then lauded the State Audit Board (BPK) for its role in auditing the state finance amid the need for swift government action to rescue the people from the pandemic.

“The pandemic is not a normal situation, so the audit cannot use normal standards. The important thing is rescuing people. Rescuing people is the supreme law in a state. BPK’s innovations to create accountability for all in our country are worthy of praise,” Jokowi said.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu AJ, Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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