"Development is not about building bridges, facilities, and physical infrastructure. Our ideals are determined by the quality and character of the people," he said during an online discussion entitled, “Internalization of Bung Karno's Thoughts on Economic Independence" here on Thursday.
Latief explained that one of the thoughts of Bung Karno, or Soekarno, the first Indonesian President, that said the post-independence era brought new problems.
However, these problems have been solved.
"If we read the second paragraph of the 1945 Constitution, independence only brings us to the 'gate', and true independence is built afterward, namely by social revolution to become a united, sovereign, just, and prosperous nation," he said.
According to Latief, to realize those ideals, investment in human capital to support human resources development is needed.
He explained that there are two types of independence. First, is being free from colonialism, exploitation, and discrimination, and the second is being free to cultivate one's potential.
"Positive independence is when we have succeeded in cultivating our potential so that we become the best for the country, where we are free to cultivate the potential of natural resources for the prosperity of the people," he said.
He added, to achieve true independence, Bung Karno has his methodology and ideology of Trisakti, which consists of the visions of being economically independent, politically sovereign, and having a character in culture.
"These three must be complementary, and mutually benefit each other because Trisakti is a derivative of Pancasila, whose five precepts are connected to one another," he said.
He emphasized that in order for Indonesia to exit the middle-income trap, it must start with developing a good education system, boosting innovation, and shifting to a knowledge-based economy.
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Translator: Lintang P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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