At the event in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, he said that Pancasila was chosen as a unifying compromise to resolve the debate over Indonesia's ideology between the Islamist, nationalist, and secularist founding fathers of the nation.
"Pancasila emerged as a unifying factor for us, a highly diverse nation," he added, according to a statement received from the MPR in Jakarta on Friday.
Elaborating on Indonesia's characteristics, Muzani said that the country is home to approximately 230 million Muslims, who make up 87 percent of the population, making it the world's second-largest Muslim nation.
He added that Indonesia spans over 17 thousand islands and is home to people of around 13 thousand ethnicities who speak about 700 languages.
The Malayic language, now known as Indonesian, has proven instrumental in binding the country's diverse people together, he pointed out.
"We designated a Malayic language, which was not the most widely spoken, as our unifying language. This language later transformed into Indonesian, the language spoken nationwide to this day," he told the international audience.
The lawmaker, however, acknowledged that the Indonesian nation has also faced challenges and disagreements, particularly those stemming from differences in the visions and policies of the central and regional governments.
In this context, he emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto has been encouraging Indonesian citizens to prioritize unity to deal with such issues.
He said the head of state believes that fostering a sense of unity among leaders and their constituents is crucial for Indonesia to fully capitalize on its vast natural resources and achieve progress.
"Indonesia aims to be stronger; a healthy and smart nation standing on an equal footing with others," he added.
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Translator: Bagus A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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