Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Basarah (ANTARA/HO)

The spirit of "gotong royong," or mutual cooperation, is intrinsic to the Pancasila state ideology's values that Indonesia should adopt in its collective endeavors to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a legislator stated.

The values of Pancasila are applicable in the nation's fight against the COVID-19 crisis, Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Basarah stated in Jakarta on Monday while speaking during the commemoration of Pancasila Day.

"As a nation, Indonesia has had tremendous ideological and sociological capital that can be developed to foster social participation and serve as a source of energy to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts," he noted.

However, the Indonesian society can develop this collective strength if the central and regional governments work along with other stakeholders of the nation to capitalize on the people's ideological and sociological capital, Basarah remarked.

June 1 marks the commemoration of the birth of the state ideology of Pancasila. To this end, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a virtual commemorative event at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday.

In his address to the nation, Jokowi affirmed that Pancasila functions as a guiding beacon to enliven the spirit of the Indonesian people's nationhood, mutual care and cooperation, and brotherhood in their pursuit to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jokowi reiterated that the COVID-19 pandemic has tested the endurance of Indonesians in their collective struggle.

The coronavirus pandemic has also tested the endurance of the nation's sacrifice, discipline, obedience, and mental fortitude in preparing apt and swift policies to respond to the challenges posed in this difficult time, he noted.

"In facing this test, Pancasila remains a guiding beacon to push us all to continue to forge ahead, stand united, be caring and sharing, and strengthen our nationhood," he noted at the virtual event in which the participants comprised Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and cabinet members.

The values of Pancasila have become a source of encouragement to uplift the spirit of the entire nation to reduce its common burden and rekindle the fighting spirit and endurance in dealing with difficulties and challenges, he stated.

Apart from Vice President Amin, Head of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education's (BPIP's) Advisory Council Megawati Soekarnoputri, House of Representatives’ Speaker Puan Maharani, and cabinet members also partook in the commemorative event.

The coronavirus disease, which initially hit the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has since spread to at least 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a huge spike in death toll.

The Indonesian government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2 this year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the purchasing power of scores of Indonesian families, particularly those who lost their jobs.

In dealing with this difficult situation, President Jokowi has repeatedly highlighted the importance of fostering the spirit of "gotong royong," arguing that the government cannot work alone to fight the spread of coronavirus infections. (ANTARA)

Logo of the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission. (ANTARA/Benardy Ferdiansyah)

Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Firli Bahiro, stressed that committing corruption was tantamount to betrayal of the values enshrined in the nation's state ideology of Pancasila.

"Bear in mind that daring to commit corruption is equivalent to betraying the values contained in every principle in Pancasila," he noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday during the commemoration of the 75th Pancasila Day falling on June 1.

According to the first stipulation of Pancasila, encompassing five core philosophical ideologies of the state, “Belief in God Almighty” translates to fearing corrupt behavior and being hopeful of being spared from the intent, temptation, and acts of corruption, he remarked.

"This is since we are certain that the Almighty is watching our every step, demeanor, and act in this temporary world," he noted.

The ability to restrain one's self from partaking in corrupt behavior for fear of sin makes fair and civilized human beings that falls in line with the second ideology of Pancasila.

"The spirit and implementation of the essence of the first and second precepts can be the goal of the third precept, the Unity of Indonesia, in eradicating the culture of corruption that has taken root in this country," he noted.

The war against corruption must be fought through wisdom as is the essence of the fourth precept of Pancasila.

Bahiro noted that the people would certainly hope, dream, and aspire to eradicate corruption in Indonesia for the sake of social justice for all Indonesians, which is contained in the fifth precept of Pancasila.

"Once again, the meaning, essence, and values of the five points of Pancasila form a unified whole and bind to one another, and their meaning should serve as the basis of life for the nation and state," he noted.

He further remarked that the Commission had recently forged cooperation with several state institutions, including the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), to engrain and follow the values of Pancasila in the efforts to eradicate corruption.

He believed that Pancasila Day should be interpreted in a bid to eradicate corruption, which should pose a serious concern for all elements of the nation, as corruption clearly violates the basic principles of Pancasila.

"Only by practicing the precepts of Pancasila would the anti-corruption sword blades be able to pierce the latent heartbeat of corruption," he affirmed.

Pancasila, as the basis of the state and the way of life of the nation, as well as the people of Indonesia are noble values that emerged out of the nation's culture.

"Pancasila is not solely for memorization, but we shall practice the noble values enshrined in it," Bahuri emphasized. (ANTARA)

Pancasila State ideology serves as a guiding beacon to enliven the spirit of Indonesians' nationhood, mutual care and cooperation, and brotherhood as they persist ceaselessly in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

Speaking during a virtual event to commemorate the birth of Pancasila at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday, President Jokowi admitted to the novel coronavirus pandemic testing the endurance of Indonesians in their collective struggle.

The coronavirus pandemic has also tested the endurance of the nation's sacrifice, discipline, obedience, and mental composure in preparing apposite and swift policies to respond to challenges presented during this difficult time, he emphasized.

"In facing this test, Pancasila remains a guiding beacon to encourage us all to continue to forge ahead, stand united, adopt a caring and sharing approach, and strengthen our nationhood," the president remarked at the virtual event in which the participants comprised Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and cabinet members.

The values of Pancasila have become ingrained in the life of the entire nation to ease its common burden and rouse the fighting spirit and endurance in dealing with all difficulties and challenges, he affirmed.

Apart from Vice President Amin, others taking part in the commemorative event were Head of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education's (BPIP's) Advisory Council Megawati Soekarnoputri, House of Representatives’ Speaker Puan Maharani, and cabinet members.

The coronavirus disease, which initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, has since then spread to at least 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a massive rise in death toll.

The Indonesian government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2 this year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the purchasing power of scores of Indonesian families, particularly those who lost their jobs.

In dealing with this difficult situation, President Jokowi has repeatedly highlighted the importance of fostering the spirit of "gotong royong", or mutual cooperation, arguing that the government cannot work alone to fight the spread of coronavirus infections.

The central and regional governments nationwide have been striving persistently to flatten the coronavirus curve by imposing healthcare protocols and social restrictions.

To break the chain of transmission, large-scale social restrictions have been applied in several other cities, including Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

The central government also banned homebound travel, locally known as “mudik,” during the fasting month of Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri holiday season.(ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) virtually led the commemoration of the state ideology Pancasila Day through videoconferencing from the Garuda Room of the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java, Monday.

In his address, the head of state affirmed that this year, Pancasila Day must be commemorated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as it tested the nation's fighting spirit, sacrifice, discipline, obedience, and composure in taking prompt and appropriate policy steps.

Jokowi further noted that Pancasila remained the cornerstone to forge ahead in a unified manner to overcome all challenges.

The president highlighted the need for all elements of the nation to come together in boosting unity and kinship by helping one another and sharing the workload.

Jokowi also called on the people to harbor belief that Indonesia is a nation of victors and that all should work together to overcome all deficiencies and weaknesses.

The president pointed to the tough challenges faced by the nation for which hard work was tantamount to tiding over the difficult, unprecedented time of the pandemic.

"Happy Pancasila Day. Let us always stand united, care for one another, and share with one another for the advancement of our beloved country," Jokowi noted in his message.

Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin, Chairperson of the Steering Committee and fifth President of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairs and heads of state agencies and institutions, ministers of the Onward Indonesian Cabinet, Chairmen of the Pancasila Ideology Development Board, and other invitees partook in the ceremony to commemorate Pancasila Day. (ANTARA)