Philosophy professor of UGM, Prof. Dr. Armaidy Armawi, M.Si., said there had been signs of apathy towards Pancasila. This is seen in some Indonesian people that do not care about the value of Pancasila, the state ideology. Along with growing tendency for secularism and hedonism, "Some people prefer materialistic and hedonistic values,” said Armaidy Armawi during his inaugural speech as professor in the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday (15/12).
Armaidy revealed some of the elite holding positions in government could not implement Pancasila values in administering the state governance, making citizens apathetic towards Pancasila. “There is no concordance between words and action plus the lack of good role model among the elite. Pancasila is only made as a concept that is only memorised, not implemented and made a guideline of life," he said.
Therefore, Armaidy said, it was time for the strengthening of Pancasila as a state philosophy and ideological basis in the administration of society, nation and the state by: learning the moral of Pancasila through education that is based on religion awareness; reconstructing the political culture by strengthening democratic pillars that is fair and civilised as well as building intellectual thoughts in the platform that is based on Pancasila.
“It's time the values of Pancasila be the benchmark for any policy and regulation of the state to make that takes into account parameters of justice and civility. Government has to maintain noble humanity values whilst sticking to the noble moral aspirations of the people, as mandated by the Constitution," he said.
In his remarks ‘Strengthening of Pancasila amidst the secularism and hedonism’, Armaidy has the view that the first principle of Pancasila should be learned and implemented rightly on the interpretation of the One God principle for the religious life.
The second principle, in his opinion, has to be pondered upon the interpretation of the fair and civilised humanity. "When one's life is no longer taken into account during various riotings and terrors, this thing has to be regretted," he said.
In the third principle the interpretation of nationhood should be understood as when many regions put themselves before others through disadvantaging bylaws which they produced.
Armaidy added the fourth principle should be understood in terms of the democratic interpretation that is guided by wisdom in unanimous agreement/representation when there is a tendency for the elite to dominate the debates for decision making.
The fifth principle, he said, we have to learn much about the social justice for all citizens of Indonesia when the larger part of Indonesia still find difficulties in getting food and clothings whilst on the other hand, "Some elite just spend the money in excess," he said.