Puan Maharani Highlights The Dark Indonesia Phenomenon And The One Piece Flag At The Joint Session Of The DPR-DPD

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, mentioned the 'Illegal Indonesia' phenomenon and the raising of the One Piece flag in her speech at the 2025 DPR-DPD RI Joint Session. Puan said that in democracy the community was given the widest possible space to speak and express criticism.

"Let us build a democracy that brings people hope to life. Democracy does not stop at the polling room, but continues to grow in dialogue spaces, in the kitchens of the people, at the village hall, to the parliament building so that every decision is born out of shared awareness, not just an agreement of a handful of elites," said Puan in her speech at the DPR-DPD Joint Session at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Friday, August 15.

"In democracy, the people must have ample space to associate, gather, express opinions, and express criticism. Now, people's criticism is present in various creative forms and takes advantage of technological advances, especially social media, as a mouthpiece for public voices," he continued.

Puan gave an example of various forms of public expression that went viral in the digital space, ranging from short sentences to pop culture symbols. According to Puan, behind various expressions of people's unrest, there is hope that must be understood with wisdom.

"This expression can be in the form of short sentences such as JUST fall away', sharp satire Illamental Indonesia', political jokes Konoha state', to new symbols such as One Piece flag', and many more that spread widely in the digital space. This phenomenon shows that the aspirations and unrest of the people are now conveyed in their own language," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also reminded that criticism from the people should not be underestimated, but need to be responded with wisdom.

"For the holders of power, all the voices of the people that we hear are not just words or pictures. Behind every word there is a message. Behind every message there is unrest. And behind the unrest there is hope," he said.

"Therefore, what we all demand is wisdom. Wisdom to hear is not only, but also understanding. Wiseness to not only respond, but to respond with a clear heart and an open mind," added Puan.

Puan said that even though the public's criticism was conveyed loudly, it was not to divide. But as part of a tool of improvement for the progress of the nation.

"We all hope that whatever the form and content of criticism conveyed by the people should not be a coal that burns brotherhood. Criticism should not be a fire that divides the nation. On the other hand, criticism must be a light that illuminates our common path," said Puan.