For that reason, Thohir chose to wear clothing unique to the Boedi Oetomo organization to the Seconds to Proclamation Ceremony, which was held to mark the 78th anniversary of Indonesian independence at Merdeka Palace here on Thursday.
"I think this momentum is right because we know it (Boedi Oetomo) was a youth movement organization and today, the majority of Indonesia's population is young, and we are also in the process of transitioning to an advanced Indonesia," he said.
Commenting on a viral video showing Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono inspecting Thohir's suit, he said that he was just being playful.
"Mr. Hadimuljono when interacting with me likes to be playful," he added.
Other than Thohir, almost all ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet wore traditional clothes from various regions of Indonesia to the Independence Day ceremony at Merdeka Palace.
For instance, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati wore traditional clothing from East Nusa Tenggara, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin wore Minahasa traditional clothing, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi wore clothing from West Sulawesi, and Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia from Papua.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wore the Ageman Songkok Singkepan Ageng clothing from Surakarta, Central Java, and First Lady Iriana wore traditional Balinese clothing.
Some of Indonesia's famous designers, such as Ali Charisma and Anne Avantie, said they were amazed by the President's traditional clothing.
Avantie said the President's attire showed him as a compassionate leader.
"Our head of state is the unifier of the nation, as the traditional clothes he wore is the Ageman Songkok Singkepan Ageng from Surakarta, which gives a message of a compassionate leader," she said.
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Translator: Yashinta P, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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