JAKARTA - History today, 24 years ago, September 16, 1998, President BJ Habibie issued an instruction that stopped the use of indigenous and non-infectious terms. The order was contained in Presidential Instruction Number 26 of 1999.
Habibie wants to realize equal legal standing to strengthen unity. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika: different but one too. That's what he likes. There is no longer any difference on the basis of ethnicity, religion, skin tone, and race. Everything remains Indonesia.
The 1997-1998 economic recession brings misery to all Indonesian people. Many businesses went out of business. Unemployment everywhere. Moreover, the rupiah exchange price reached its lowest point. The rupiah at that time reached a position of Rp. 16,000 per US dollar.
The government also tries all kinds of ways to reduce the impact of the recession. However, there is no effective study. After all, the behavior of policy makers is just like many who seek their own safety. The impact is huge. Suharto joked. The New Order (Orba), which is predicted to be the era of change, is predicted to end soon.
In fact, the prediction was quite correct. Suharto's previous power was considered unable to be shaken, especially since the military strength behind it was destroyed by the economic recession. Suharto stepped down in 1998. BJ Habibie was then asked as President of Indonesia to replace Suharto.
At the beginning of his government, not a few doubted Habibie's capacity. He is considered good in the field of technology development, but not enough experience for the world of politics. However, he silenced many mouths that doubted him.
"It turns out that BJ Habibie was able to stop falling free of rupiah at a position of Rp. 16,000 per US dollar. BJ Habibie not only stopped the decline in the value of the rupiah, but he was able to systematically return the value of the rupiah to a healthy direction. Indeed, it was a long day with various dynamics experienced by BJ Habibie in his life. President Suharto suddenly stepped down, and suddenly he got the mandate to become head of state."
A mandate that he carries out as his responsibilities as Vice President. The capital that exists in BJ Habibie, as he admits, is only because he has an invaluable experience as a member of the development cabinet for more than 20 years. He knows every problem both macro and micro," said A. Makmur Makka in the book Inspiration of Habibie (2020).
Not only breakthroughs in the economic field. BJ Habibie also perpetuated the other breakthroughs one by one. His efforts stopped the use of indigenous and non-infectious terms, for example. The effort was realized through the Presidential Instruction on September 16, 1998.
BJ Habibie invites all ranks to stop using the term indigenous and non-inhabitable. Because, the impression of differentiating feels obvious in that term. Moreover, the practice of that term is often considered the source of the presence of racism.
PERTAMA: Stop using native and non-infected terms in all formulations and implementation of policies, program planning, or implementation of government administration activities.
Ladies: Provide equal treatment and services to all Indonesian citizens in organizing government, social and development services, and eliminate differences in all forms, traits and levels to Indonesian citizens, both on the basis of ethnicity, religion, race and origin in organizing these services," the instruction letter reads.
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