Megawati To BRIN Researcher: Now Is The Transition Period, Hard Work And Enthusiasm

Chairman of the BRIN Steering Committee Megawati Soekarnoputri (right) delivered a speech when she met hundreds of BRIN/ANTARA researchers

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Steering Committee of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Megawati Soekarnoputri asked the researchers to work hard and not complain much because the BRIN transition had only been running for two years. "Now the transition period is only two years, but a structure has been formed. So, now what is there and must be done is hard work and enthusiasm," he said in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, August 7. Megawati attended an event entitled "BRIN Hearing" which was held at the Nayaka Loka Building, Candikuning Botanical Gardens, Baturiti, Tabanan Regency, Bali Province, Monday today. He said the government had merged a number of institutions into BRIN so that the research and innovation ecosystem in Indonesia would no longer look to the past. Megawati reminded researchers to prioritize research that focuses on the interests of the nation and state. According to him, the spirit of the nation's freedom fighters should be lived by Indonesians, especially researchers. Megawati conveyed that the motivation was not so that her name as Chair of the BRIN Steering Committee would be fragrant or in the interests of materials to obtain assets from BRIN, but for Indonesia. "You guys are nothing but thinking about how much money it is. I understand it is necessary, but there is something more important, for what? Namely your service to the country and nation," said the Fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia. Furthermore, he claims not to sit behind the table as Chairman of the BRIN Steering Committee because he always goes around to meet researchers so that there is a change in mindset regarding research and innovation in Indonesia. Megawati gave an example of the various problems faced by the Indonesian people as well as the main ingredient in the work of BRIN researchers. For example, the discussion with President Joko Widodo regarding ensuring the upstream to downstream Indonesian exchange products needed abroad or the threat of disasters due to global warming of Indonesian food. "I want BRIN to be compact as one. Not for you, but for the Republic of Indonesia," he said.

"Look at the hero garden. I always say like this, (Remember) what your children and grandchildren will eat if foreigners (we let) take ours," said Megawati.