Commemorating Constitution Day, MPR Chair Reminds Soekarno's Message: Indonesia Don't Want To Be A Coolie Nation

JAKARTA - The MPR RI held a commemoration of Constitution Day at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, August 18. This event was attended by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin.

In his speech, the Chairman of the MPR RI Bambang Soesatyo or Bamsoet reminded the Indonesian people not to become a 'coolie nation'.

Initially, Bamsoet talked about the Pancasila economic system that the Indonesian nation must implement. According to him, Indonesia must be able to stand on its own feet as the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, called for.

"The Pancasila economic system, which was inherited by the nation's founders, can only be implemented fully and consistently. If Indonesia has what President Soekarno called 'the ability to stand on its own feet' or be independent," said Bamsoet in an event entitled 'Constitution as a foundation for the economy. and post-pandemic global politics'.

Bamsoet then reminded Soekarno's message that the Indonesian people should not become a 'coolie nation'.

"President Soekarno advised that the Indonesian people should not become a 'coolie nation' and become a 'coolie for other nations'," he said.

Likewise, he continued, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) once said that the Indonesian people should not be a nation with an 'inlander' mentality.

"President Jokowi on one occasion once said, we must not be a nation that still has an 'inlander' mentality and is 'inferior' when dealing with other nations," said Bamsoet.

The Deputy Chairperson of Golkar also emphasized that Indonesia should not only be used as a source of cheap raw materials by industrial-capitalist countries.

"It should not only be used as a 'market' to sell industrial products from industrialized-capitalist countries, as well as a place to rotate excess capital from advanced industrial countries," said Bamsoet.

According to him, the Indonesian nation must develop an independent economic system. "We must develop an independent economic system, one hundred percent independent, which is able to achieve justice and prosperity for all people without exception," he said.

Bamsoet emphasized that the state's control over important sectors is to increase the added value of agricultural, marine, and mining products so that they are no longer exported in raw or semi-finished form.

"Building the spirit of mutual cooperation for mutual prosperity, as well as state control over important sectors that affect the lives of many people, accompanied by serious efforts to increase the added value of agricultural, marine and mining products, so that they are no longer exported in raw or semi-processed form. so," said Bamsoet again.