Home Affairs Minister, Tjahjo Kumolo, said radicalism and terrorism were the main threats against Pancasila state ideology and Indonesia’s diversity.
“We need to monitor challenges against the state ideology in the form of radicalism and terrorism; these are the main threats,” he said in the Seminar titled Pancasila and Diversity on Monday (6/11) in the Senate Hall UGM, which was attended by government officials, academics, and students.
Minister Tjahjo mentioned that Pancasila was facing challenges amidst the era of globalisation and information. Current developments of Indonesia, he said, showed the decrease in tolerance between ethnic groups, races, groups, and faiths while current behaviours did not reflect the values of Pancasila.
Hence, he called on all elements of society to be involved in the efforts to strengthen the ideology of Pancasila and actualise it among the society to confront the values that threaten the unity of the country.
He hoped this seminar would produce important consideration to address national problems while the diversity of the Indonesian people can be employed to unify the nation.
“We have the diversity value that acts as a unifier of the nation. Diversity should just not stay as a slogan but be instilled by the nation,” the Minister explained.
Member of Presidential Working Unit on Pancasila Ideology (UKP-PIP), Prof. Dr. H. A Syafi’i Ma’arif, shared the view, saying the rapid population and economic growth of Indonesia had posed challenges on its own for state administration. In this condition, Indonesia was challenged to be able to implement the formulated principles.
The Seminar was a collaboration between UGM, Presidential Advisory Board, and UKP-PIP. Chair of the Board, Sri Adiningsih, said the event was to identify structural problems and challenges to Pancasila values, to get ideas and local initiatives that enhance diversity and nationalism, and to formulate strategic measures for the implementation of Pancasila ideology.
“The Presidential Advisory Board hopes the seminar would give input to the government for the strengthening of diversity and nationalism,” said Adiningsih who is also economist from UGM.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng. D.Eng., said the significance of the event was to raise the topic on Pancasila among the public domain so that all elements of society can realise the Pancasila as an ideology that is understood well, instilled, and implemented in real life.
“It’s about time that Pancasila is actualised into the administration of the state. I hope this event would produce local initiatives to enhance diversity and nationalism in order to build the country as a common home for all Indonesian people,” said the Rector.