Head Of BPIP Sorry For The Controversy Of Paskibraka's Hijab Off

Head of BPIP Yudian Wahyudi (central)/ANTARA/Rangga Pandu

Head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Yudian Wahyudi apologized for the polemic on the release of the Putri Flag Raising Troop (Paskibraka) hijab which drew criticism from many parties.

"BPIP apologizes profusely to all Indonesian people for the growing news related to the Jilbab Release news for the central-level women's Paskibraka in 2024," Yudian said in his statement, Thursday, August 15.

In the aftermath of public protests, Yudian admitted that BPIP followed the direction of the Palace to allow the women's Paskibraka to wear the hijab to keep wearing her veil at the 79th Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony at IKN.

"BPIP confirms that it follows the direction of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) as the Person in Charge of the Implementation of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day Ceremony which was delivered on August 14, 2024 in Jakarta, which states that the Paskibraka Putri wearing the headscarf can serve without removing her headscarf in raising the Saka Merah Putih at the commemoration of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day in the capital city of the archipelago," he explained.

The incident of releasing the women's Paskibraka headscarf during the inauguration at the State Palace of IKN on Tuesday, August 13, drew criticism from many parties, one of which was Purna Paskibraka Indonesia (PPI).

PPI General Chairperson Gouta Feriza in Jakarta, on Wednesday, August 14, emphasized that this was against the values of Pancasila, especially the precepts of One Godhead.

He explained that the women's Paskibraka members came from various ethnicities, cultures, and religions. During the training process, they are allowed to wear the hijab according to their respective beliefs. However, at the time of inauguration they were forced to release the hijab.

In previous years, Paskibraka members were allowed to wear the hijab in the inauguration and flag-raising ceremonies on August 17.

However, BPIP decided to uniform Paskibraka's clothing and appearance in 2024, as stated in the Circular of Deputy for Training Number 1 of 2024.

In the circular, there is no choice to dress hijab for Paskibraka members who use the hijab.

Meanwhile, Head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Yudian Wahyudi explained that the release of the hijab of a number of members of the 2024 Heritage Flag Raising Troops (Paskibraka) aims to raise the values of uniformity in raising the flag.

"Because from the beginning Paskibraka was a uniform," said Yudian when giving a press statement at the National Police Residential, the capital city of Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Wednesday, August 14.

Later, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (Kasetpres) Heru Budi Hartono ensured that all women's Paskibraka wearing hijab would still wear the hijab during the RI Anniversary ceremony.