Moeldoko: President Conveys To Respect Paskibraka's Confidence

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko (left) and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy (right) at the Indonesian Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Thursday (15/8/2024). ANTARA/Andi Firdaus

Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave directions to all parties to respect the belief of every officer of the Heritage Flag-raising Troop (Paskibraka). "From the President, how are we trying to respect the beliefs of the participants. I think that's what needs to be considered," said Moeldoko at the Indonesian Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, August 14. This was conveyed by Meoldoko in response to the polemic of a number of Paskibraka members who were suspected of removing the headscarf during the inauguration. On a separate occasion, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres), Heru Budi Hartono Paskibraka, will continue to wear the headscarf while serving at the commemoration ceremony of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan, on August 17, 2024. "We ask all younger women who do wear the headscarf, continue to use it," Heru said in Jakarta, Wednesday. The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo emphasized the importance of maintaining individual rigidity in religious principles even though it is for Paskibraka uniform standards. This was conveyed by Menpora Dito in response to the polemic of the women's 2024 National Paskibraka officers removing the headscarf. "In the future, we must protect this together. Do not let the reasons so that there is uniformity, hit the values of rigidity that individuals already have," he said. Previously, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) emphasized that it did not force the women's Paskibraka to remove the headscarf while serving as Paskibraka during the inauguration and raising of the flag on August 17, 2024. "In connection with the development of discourse in the public related to accusations of BPIP committing coercion on the headscarf, BPIP understands the aspirations of the community. BPIP confirms that it does not force the heads of BPIP Yudian Wahyudi in a statement in the capital city of Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Wednesday.

Yudian emphasized that the clothes, attributes, and attitudes, the appearance of Paskibraka as seen during the implementation of state duties, namely the inauguration of Paskibraka, were Paskibraka's volunteerism in order to comply with existing regulations, and only at the time of the inauguration of Paskibraka and the raising of the Red and White at state ceremonies.