MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA—President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir conveyed Happy National Press Day 2023. He hoped that the press would become the fourth pillar in building the nation and state.
“The press may bring the soul, vision, and noble goals of Indonesia and all elements of this nation, so that the Indonesian people can be united, sovereign, just, and prosperous,” said Haedar on Thursday (9/2) on National Press Day 2023 raising a theme of ‘Pers Merdeka, Demokrasi, Bermartabat’ (Free, Democratic, Dignified Press).
Besides, managers and actors of media may always uphold the values of Pancasila, religion, noble culture of Indonesia as the foundation to play their role.
Freedom of the press in Indonesia should contain both noble Indonesian and universal values because this nation doesn’t build relations only based on freedom but also a spirit of cooperation, collective togetherness, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity).
“Hence, freedom is integrated with the vitality of the Indonesian people,” said Haedar.
Furthermore, Haedar wished that the process of democracy, politics, economy, and culture should always refer to Pancasila values.
“Democracy in Indonesia has to refer to the fourth principle, a Democratic Life
guided by wisdom in Deliberation/Representation. Pancasila-based Indonesian democracy and politics have a value of deliberation, togetherness, and wisdom, not a value of ‘who is strong wins’, oligarchy, and rationality,” mentioned Haedar.
“The press in Indonesia may boost dignified democracy based on respectable values, behaviors and actions,” said Haedar.
Therefore, a dignified democracy will not justify corruption, abuse of power, infinite power, and practices of nationhood and statehood that cause problems.
“A dignified democracy also upholds values of truth, goodness, and decency, so money politics transactions and pragmatic democratic processes do not develop,” mentioned Haedar.
“Indeed, people can’t justify any means and allow political division to continue to occur because it will threaten integrity of Indonesia,” Haedar said.
