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Indonesia's sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. ANTARA/HO-Instagram @aniyudhoyono

Indonesia's sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), expressed belief and confidence in Indonesia's capability to aptly resolve and steer through the public health and economic crises arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, if it stood united.

"Our country is currently facing a twin crises. Hence, we must remain united," Yudhoyono stated in a video circulated by the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day in Jakarta on Monday.

Yudhoyono, who led Indonesia for a decade, laid emphasis on preserving unity as the most important aspect for the nation amid this global pandemic situation.

To this end, the government must lead and assist the people, while the public, on its part, should fully support the government and fulfill mandatory duties, according to the former president.

"With God's help and our hard work, Insya Allah (God willing), we are in a position to tide through this difficult time," he noted.

Indonesia is the biggest country and economy in Southeast Asia. It is also a member of the G-20 along with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

The nation and state are mandatorily tasked with building Indonesia to become well-developed, peaceful, prosperous, and just, SBY affirmed.

"Our noble goal to become a strong and developed state in this century is not just an empty dream," he remarked while urging the entire nation to always be thankful to the Almighty God and the nation's founding fathers and leaders from different eras.

While earlier addressing the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR's) annual session and joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in Jakarta on Aug 14, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had highlighted the importance of tiding over the twin crises.

President Jokowi reiterated the criticality of tackling Indonesia's fundamental problems and making a huge leap for registering significant progress amid the far-reaching impacts and implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our current goal is not only limited to overcoming the pandemic and getting through the crisis, but we are also taking measures to make a huge leap by capitalizing on the momentum presented by the ongoing crisis," President Jokowi emphasized.

The head of state expressed belief that the crisis had given rise to a momentum for Indonesia to catch up and forge ahead to make a major transformation by applying grand strategies.

"We must make the most of this crisis. We must simultaneously and concurrently capitalize on this momentum," the head of state remarked.

"We must work towards making Indonesia stand at par with other countries. We must aspire to make our country an Advanced Indonesia," he stated. (ANTARA)