RI Needs To Resolve 8 Problems To Develop Further: Yudhoyono

Depok, W Java (Antara Bali) - Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the country will develop into a strong nation if eight pending problems are dealt with.

"If we can settle these problems, Indonesia will become developed and strong," he stated at the campus of the University of Indonesia (UI) on Thursday during an international seminar entitled, "Interpreting 70 years of Indonesian Independence amidst the Changing World in Historical Perspective."

According to him, the first of the eight problems were a matter of state ideology (Pancasila), which is now being challenged by other ideologies.

Yudhoyono explained that Pancasila is the best ideology for the Indonesian people, and will help resolve the future challenges faced by the country.

"I have studied the ideologies of other nations and believe that Pancasila is the best (for Indonesians)," he remarked.

Secondly, democracy is the best form of governance among other systems. Democracy and economic development should reinforce each other.

Freedom and security are equally important, while the general election and regional elections should help create the nations' leaders.

"The general election should not be transformed into a parade of money-driven politics," Yudhoyono warned.

Thirdly, with regards to the state order and system of governance, he said, "I am sure that the presidential system is the best, but the checks and balances in the system should be able to function as well.

Fourthly, the economic system must be attended to and the implementation of the market economy should be followed by social justice, while maintaining a proportional role for the government.

International economic cooperation must not sacrifice the national interest, leading to an orientation of improving the people's standard of living and should stay far from the ideological rhetoric and narrow nationalism.

Fifthly, the chosen model for development should be sustainable development aimed at achieving growth and balance."

Sixthly, national unity should be accorded importance by maintaining the balance between nationalism and internationalism, spirit and ties of regional identity, as well as the strengthening of tolerance and harmony in the society.

Seventhly, regarding sovereignty and territorial unity, in this case the country must not be careless because separatist movements still exist in the world.    

While commenting on foreign policy and international relations, Yudhoyono said, "We have established that a unitary state of Indonesia is non-negotiable," adding that this must be done intelligently.

Meanwhile, President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo delivered his State of the Nation Address before the Annual Plenary Session 2015 of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta on Friday.

He said that in addition to having a large and creative population with a growing middle class and a diverse capital city, Indonesia also had the potential to grow parallel with other developed nations in the world.

Indonesia also had a democratic political system, a moderate Muslim community, and is ranked as the 16th largest economic power in the world with a gross domestic product of about Rp10 thousand trillion dollars, President Widodo said. (WDY)