VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo has asked all members of the National Scout Movement to lead two national movements to help promote the values of discipline and caring in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I ask for you (the National Scout Movement) to make two national movements, first is the movement of national discipline that encourages the people to follow health protocols," the President  said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The President made the statement at a ceremony to mark the 59th National Scout Movement Day. Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali, and chief of Presidential Staff, Moeldoko, were present at the ceremony, while other attendees, including chief of the National Quarter of the Scout Movement, Budi Waseso, attended the ceremony via video conferencing.

"The two movements will sharpen your leadership, in deepening the true soul of scouts, as stipulated in the movement's dwi dharma (two purposes), tri satya (three essences), and dasa dharma (ten purposes) of the scouts," he added.

He emphasized that the Indonesian Scouts have always created tough generations adept in facing every challenge.

“(To be) Disciplined in taking actions, fearless in facing every challenge, always caring, ready to sacrifice for the greater good, and in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, that can be challenging, those are the characters (attributes) that we need," he continued.

As head of the National Scouts Movements' supervisory board, the President said that discipline covers abiding by health protocols, wearing masks, maintaining distance, and encouraging all elements of the public to follow the guidelines.

"The COVID-19 pandemic era has led to a health and economic crisis," he said, adding that an attitude of discipline, caring in the pursuit of joint interests, and solving problems needs to be inculcated.

He said he believed that if such values are promoted, Indonesia will be able to stem the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the associated risks.

The Indonesian Scouts Movement came into being on August 14, 1941. As the President is scheduled to deliver his State Speech in the House of Representatives on August 15 this year, the National Quarter chief Budi Waseso moved up the commemoration ceremony to Wednesday.

"The theme of the 59th National Scouts Movement Day is 'The Scouts Movement Assisting COVID-19 Handling and Defending the Nation'," Waseso said in his address. (ANTARA)