Wamenhan Says Siri' Na Pacce Can Strengthen National Defense Awareness

MAKASSAR - Deputy Minister of Defense, Donny Ermawan, sees the philosophy of the Makassar Bugis community, Siri' Na Pacce, with pride. He assessed that the phrase could be the people's strength in defending the country.

Wamentan Donny Ermawan while speaking at the Ramadhan Leadership Camp in Makassar, Sunday, said based on the National Defense Index (IBN) Results for 2025, South Sulawesi Province recorded a score of 3.632 and was in the high category on a scale of 1-5.

This achievement shows that the stability of the South Sulawesi region is relatively maintained with the foundation of the value of national defense that has been internalized in people's lives.

Even on the internal National Defense Index component, South Sulawesi obtained a score of 3.530, reflecting the perception of the community, including ASN, community leaders and the younger generation, regarding the values of national defense being in the high category.

Meanwhile, on the external National Defense Index component, South Sulawesi recorded a score of 3.871, higher than the internal component.

This score shows that the social environment, governance, human development, and public participation space in South Sulawesi are very supportive of strengthening the country's defense.

However, Donny assessed that there was still room for improvement, especially among the younger generation. He encouraged the internalization of the values of local wisdom of South Sulawesi, such as Siri' Na Pacce, as part of strengthening honor, solidarity, and national responsibility.

"By looking at the existing index, ASN can focus on which parts need to be improved. Local values such as Siri' Na Pacce have great power to strengthen awareness of national defense," he said in front of hundreds of ASN Provincial Government of South Sulawesi, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, February 22.

According to Donny, ASN holds a strategic role not only as an executor of public policies, but also as a glue of national unity. Therefore, strengthening national insight is considered crucial so that the professionalism and neutrality of ASN remain maintained in the midst of political dynamics.

"The capital of the strength of this nation is unity. Previously we could expel the invaders because we were united. Don't let the political contestation now divide us," he said.

Furthermore, Donny explained that National Defense is the determination, attitude, and action of citizens to maintain state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security based on love for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.