The people’s acts of solidarity will strengthen national unity which will give us strength to excel in global competition.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The commemoration of National Solidarity Day (HKSN) on December 20 is a reminder to strengthen the community’s solidarity and mutual cooperation, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Lestari Moerdijat has said.

"Solidarity, as one of Indonesia’s values, is important to be practiced in our daily life to solve the nation's challenges," she stated in a written statement released here on Monday.

The COVID-19 pandemic and various natural disasters have made people aware of the importance of solidarity in dealing with such threats, she noted.

Making efforts to help curb the transmission of the virus as well as empathy and assistance for natural disaster victims are some examples of solidarity in practice, which must be maintained, she elaborated.

Solidarity is crucial for developing Indonesia, which is home to 270 million people from different tribes, religions, languages, and customs, the deputy speaker said.

"The people’s acts of solidarity will strengthen national unity which will give us strength to excel in global competition," she stated.

Since solidarity and cooperation are important for advancing Indonesia, these values must be passed on to Indonesia’s future generations, she emphasized. One of the attempts is by commemorating HKSN, she said.

"However, it will be better to pass on the values by giving the examples of the real implementation of them in daily life," Moerdijat remarked.

Hence, community leaders must set an example by adopting empathy and issuing policies that benefit citizens, she added.

She expressed the hope that acts of solidarity will continue to be preserved by the community as one of Indonesia’s great characteristics.

The main event of the commemoration of the national day took place on Monday at the Bangka Belitung Islands Governor’s Office, Pangkalpinang city, Bangka Belitung Islands province.

It was attended in person by the Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini and Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Erzaldi Rosman.

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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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