MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – National Awakening Day is not just a celebration for a select group of people. It is a reflection of Indonesia’s shared journey to end colonialism and build a better future together.
On this year’s commemoration of National Awakening Day, May 20, President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir encouraged Indonesians to raise collective awareness and commitment to unity and national progress.
“The early leaders of our nation came from different backgrounds and ideologies, but they came together with a shared spirit of struggle,” said Haedar.
According to Haedar, today’s generation can learn an important lesson from the national awakening movement: how people from different walks of life united under a common goal, to end colonial rule through organized and modern movements. This spirit of unity eventually led to the drafting of the 1945 Constitution, which declares that colonialism must be eliminated from the earth.
Haedar emphasized the need to reflect on the determination of Indonesia’s early leaders, who placed the interests of the nation above their own.
“They became one national force despite their differences. They prioritized Indonesia’s independence above all else, and that is what defines a true statesman,” explained Haedar.
Haedar added that national interests must always come first. If this mindset guided today’s leaders, many of the country’s persistent issues such as corruption, abuse of power, and political and economic elitism could be addressed more effectively.
“Indonesia is meant to be a nation for all, not just for one group, the rich, or the powerful. It must be a shared home for everyone,” Haedar said, echoing Sukarno’s speech on June 1, 1945.
Haedar encouraged Indonesians to view National Awakening Day as a moment to grow a stronger sense of shared responsibility, living and working together to maintain unity and move the country forward.
Haedar also reminded national leaders to look beyond personal ambition and material gain. True leadership, he said, means having the heart of a fighter and the integrity of a statesman even when faced with hardship.
“Today is a time to embrace the spirit of our founding leaders and freedom fighters. Their values should inspire us to serve with honesty, dignity, and a deep sense of duty to the nation,” said Headar.
