PDIP Gives Full Support For Megawati's Inauguration As Chair Of The BRIN Steering Committee

Megawati Soekarnoputri/ Antara

JAKARTA - PDI-P congratulates and is proud of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s decision to inaugurate Megawati Soekarnoputri as Chair of the Steering Committee of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said that his party supports and hopes that the structure of the BRIN Steering Committee will be able to bring Indonesia to compete in the world and be independent by placing research and innovation as pillars.

"President Jokowi's decision to place BRIN as the infrastructure of the nation's progress through the mastery of science and technology by placing research and innovation as the pillars of Indonesia Independent has the full support of the PDI-P," said Hasto in a written statement, Wednesday, October 13.

In addition, President Jokowi's decision to place the ex officio Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) as Chairman of the BRIN Steering Committee is the right decision. "Because research and innovation must be driven by the nation's ideology so that Indonesia is truly sovereign, independent, and proud of its cultural identity," said Hasto.

"Development policies must also be based on scientific and technological research and innovation, which is guided by the Pancasila ideology," he added.

Moreover, the Chairperson of the PDIP Megawati Soekarnoputri, who now serves as the Chair of the BRIN Steering Committee, is a person who has consistently voiced the importance of mastering basic science, research, and innovation. Not only that, said Hasto, Megawati also often fights for a research budget of 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

"Ms. Megawati is also the initiator of BRIN, by proposing to President Jokowi that BRIN be present to explain the politics of Indonesia Self-reliant, by focusing on research for Indonesian people, flora, fauna and technology itself," he said.

"Mother Megawati's concern is a form of concrete support for the development of national research and innovation, which does require large financial resources," added Hasto. Thus, Hasto hopes that BRIN will become a vessel that can solve the problem of research duplication and confusion in research governance in Indonesia as well as managing human resources.

"Through the structure of the BRIN Steering Committee, it is hoped that Indonesia will become more competitive in the world. Hopefully, BRIN can organize and manage all research institutions and bring Indonesia to move towards a knowledge-based country," said Hasto.

As previously reported, President Jokowi officially inaugurated Megawati Soekarnoputri as Chair of the BRIN Steering Committee at the State Palace, Jakarta today or Wednesday, October 13. This inauguration was based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 45 of 2021 concerning the Appointment of the BRIN Steering Committee.

In addition to appointing Megawati, President Jokowi also appointed Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa as Deputy Chair of the BRIN Steering Committee and Sudhamek Agoeng Waspodo Soenjoto as Secretary of the BRIN Steering Committee.

Then the President also inaugurated Emil Salim, I Gede Wenten, Bambang Kesowo, Adi Utarini, Marsudi Wahyu Kisworo, and Tri Mumpuni as members of the BRIN Steering Committee.