“Pancasila, which was pioneered by (President) Soekarno, has become the glue of Indonesia's unity, even though it has experienced several turbulences in the course of history," Hidayat said at a Christmas celebration with the PA GMNI, according to a statement released here on Monday.
According to him, a homogeneous nation can be vulnerable to division, but a diverse country has stronger national resilience.
He then underlined the duty of GMNI alumni, as the nation's citizens, to work together to build the nation's solidity based on the principles of tolerance and mutual cooperation (gotong royong) inherited by the founders of the nation.
The spirit of Christmas is expected to be an inspiration for PA GMNI members to help build unity, plurality, and tolerance among citizens by not forgetting the needy, he added.
Hidayat asked fellow Indonesians to strengthen the spirit of unity and gotong royong amid the challenging and uncertain situation in the country and the world.
He said that Indonesia is fortunate to have Pancasila as a guideline and way of life for responding to the increasingly capitalistic and hedonistic life.
He also invited GMNI cadres to further share the narrative of unity and Pancasila values on social media.
Meanwhile, chairperson of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Rev. Gomar Gultom, delivered a Christmas sermon with the theme "... they returned to their own country by another route" (Matthew 2:12).
He said the meaning of "finding another route" is to return to Christ's path, and that path is manifested in a better life that is free from violence and intolerance and in the realization of a better economy amid many job losses and better political ethics ahead of the upcoming General Elections.
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Translator: Fauzi, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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