TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture: “National Development as Implementation of Pancasila”

IL News 030/2012

Institut Leimena held TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture “National Development as Implementation of Pancasila” in Jakarta on Monday, November 12th. Leimena President Jakob Tobing and Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud MD gave the opening remarks. Lectures were given by President’s Advisory Council’s Chairman Emil Salim, Tebuireng Jombang Islamic Boarding School Chairman Salahuddin Wahid, and former Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B. Panjaitan. The ensuing discussion was moderated by TV-host Rosiana Silalahi, with former Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Kompas Newspaper Vice Chairman St. Sularto, and Leimena Trustee Adrianus Mooy as speakers.

The following are excerpts from national news media on this event:

(Kompas, 11/14) “There is no problem with Pancasila as the state ideology. The issue is that it is placed so high that it is not down to earth. A gap occurs between the five principles of Pancasila and the practices in the state and society.

We appreciate the TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture held by the Leimena Institute on Monday (11/12) focusing on the thoughts from TB Simatupang (1920-1990). Appropriate for our current condition, appropriate in reminding the existence of Pancasila as an open ideology which lately has become a taboo for discussion.” (Editorial, page 6, read full article here)

(Kompas, 11/13) The fifth principle in Pancasila—social justice for all Indonesian people—has been largely neglected. It can be seen from the still wide gap between the elite and the larger population in social, legal, economic, and educational areas.

This surfaced in the TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture on “National Development as Implementation of Pancasila”, held by the Leimena Institute in Jakarta, on Monday (11/12)…

Salahuddin said that Pancasila is in a coma because it is not applied in daily life. It is even ignored in formulating public policies. The fifth principle has not been fully realized. As a result, Indonesia is full of injustice, especially in the economic realm.

According to Syafii Maarif, the fifth principle has been an orphan since the beginning. The injustice is also felt in many laws which in fact are eating up national sovereignty and weakening the people.

“Pancasila must be fought in a concrete way. Uphold social justice in real daily life. All the people must have access to the wealth of the nation, and the state must be a just regulator,” said Salahuddin.

Luhut also said that, after 67 years of independence, the people are still deprived of justice and welfare. The injustice has caused public anger that can be easily ignited into a conflict by trivial issues.

The government that is not ruling justly, continued Luhut, provoked civil disobedience. In a condition like this, the Indonesian people long for a leader who has a vision of justice, defends the people, and gives a public role model.

According to Emil Salim, development must also be based on the principle of social justice. Every region, group, and area must be developed according to its character.

Pancasila as the state ideology, said Mahfud, has been accepted and tested. However, its inadequate implementation has threatened the nation to fall off the cliff. Therefore, all five principles must be implemented, especially social justice. Bring welfare to the people and uphold the law justly.

St. Sularto said, since Pancasila is abandoned, the nation’s quality is degrading in many aspects. Nevertheless, the Indonesian people must remain optimistic because there is still a hope for renewal if we have a national leadership that can really bring Indonesia forward. (PANCASILA: Tegakkan Keadilan Sosial bagi Masyarakat Pancasila, page 1, read full article here)

(Suara Pembaharuan.com, 11/12) Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mahfud MD said that at this moment the democracy in Indonesia is straying farther away from the spirit of Pancasila as the state ideology. As a result, Indonesia is full of corruption and hedonism with weak law enforcement.

“Currently, the growing democracy tends to give space for the oligarchy. Our democracy is even growing toward polyarchy (power spread over many directions),” said Mahfud in his speech in the TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture. (Mahfud MD: Indonesia Becek Korupsi, read full article here)

(Media Indonesia, 11/13) In the discussion on Pancasila, in memory of TB Simatupang, yesterday, former Muhammadiyah Chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif or commonly called Buya Syafii acknowledged that the current names of the Presidential candidates from the political parties are not sympathetic. Those names, according to him, have not given enough hope for a better Indonesia.

“We are like entering a dark tunnel. No significant figure proposed by the political parties for 2014 (i.e. presidential election). The names currently appearing are not satisfying.” (Soal Bangsa, Presiden Paling Bertanggung Jawab, page 5, read full article here)

(Sinar Harapan, 11/13) In this event, Mahfud MD said that this program in memory of TB Simatupang is very important to remind us how the former generations built Indonesia and defended Pancasila. According to Mahfud, Indonesia must remain optimistic to face the future because Indonesia has a very strong social capital to keep building based on Pancasila. (Institut Leimena gelar TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture, page 3, read full article here)

(Suara Pembaruan, 11/13) The future development of Indonesia is a leadership parameter for 2014 Election. The presidential and vice presidential candidates are expected to have the right vision for the development of Indonesian in the future. Such that Indonesia can stand and become a big nation at the 100th anniversary of independence in 2045. “What sort of development for Indonesia is the parameter for the type of leader for Indonesian in 2014,” said the President’s Advisory Council’s Chairman Emil Salim in his speech in the TB Simatupang Memorial Lecture. (Tahun 2045, Indonesia Harus Menjadi Negara Besar, page 3, read full article here)