Former Vice-President, Dr. (HC). Drs. HM Jusuf Kalla, said that everyone has a responsibility to respond to challenges in bringing Indonesia to progress.
This was stated when he delivered a remarks accepting the Hamengku Buwono IX Award during the 70th anniversary of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Thursday (19/12) in Pagelaran Keraton Yogyakarta.
"Every period has different challenges and also different solution and responsibility. Everyone has the same aim and responsibility to advance the nation," he said.
Currently, the sacrifice that is required from us is different from that during the independence period. Now it is a sacrifice in terms of intellectuality, leadership, and hard work. He added each citizen has different responsibilities according to their skills.
Academics has the responsibility to educate the young generation and conduct research. Amidst tight competition, educators have the duty to provide knowledge for the future of the students, and universities have a significant role in responding to challenges in order to improve productivity and prosperity through revenue improvement. Therefore, policy for education needs to be well thought of because it will influence character building long afterwards.
"There is no instant education. Whatever the policy is, the effect cannot be measured tomorrow but five years later. So, that needs to be studied well and it’s our responsibility to think it over,” he said.
Jusuf Kalla received the Hamengku Buwono (HB) IX Award from UGM for his service in social works. His role has made real contributions to the reasoning quality and society welfare and he has active roles towards advancement, prosperity, and peace.
Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in his welcoming speech praised Jusuf Kalla whom he had known for a long time. As a Vice-President, Kalla was known to have a simple personality but resolving state problems quickly.
"I’ve known him for a long time since 1982. Back then I already had the impression that he was a notable chairman, also a great lobbyist. This was proven during his term as Vice-President, he turned out to be a qualified diplomat that resolved the Aceh issue with the Free Aceh Movement,” said Sri Sultan.
Jusuf Kalla, he added, had made extraordinary services in peace and humanities. Even after completing his term as a state official, his leadership did not diminish.
"So, I would like to welcome this award presentation by extending congratulations and appreciation to Mohammad Jusuf Kalla," he said.
The HB IX Award is an award presented to Indonesian nationals that have made real contributions to the state and continue doing the good examples given by Hamengku Buwono IX.
"In our opinion, Jusuf Kalla deserved to earn this award. Hopefully, he would continue the same to serve the nation,” said Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng.