I want to respond firmly that I am ready whatsoever for Pancasila."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Megawati Soekarnoputri has explained the reason why she accepted a request by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to become the chairperson of the board of directors of the Presidential Working Unit on Reinforcement of the Pancasila Ideology (UKP-PIP).

"When I was asked by Jokowi to become the chairperson of the Board of Directors of UKP-PIP, there were criticisms saying that Mrs Megawati was once the member of parliament, vice president, and president. She is also the longest-serving chairperson of the (PDIP) Party. So, what she is looking for, as this is only a working unit. I want to respond firmly that I am ready whatsoever for Pancasila," the eldest daughter of the countrys founding father, Sukarno, said in a statement.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) will always stand strong to guard Pancasila, she stated.

Jokowi installed nine members as the board of directors of the UKP PIP and Megawati as the chairperson, on July 7, 2017, at the State Palace.

The 10 people were installed based on Presidential Decree No. 31/M/2017 on the Appointment of Board of Directors and Chairman of the UKP PIP.

The members of the UKP PIP Board of Directors includes former vice president Try Sutrisno, former chairman of the Constitutional Court Muhammad Mahfud MD, former chairman of Muhammadiyah Ahmad Syafii Maarif, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council Maruf Amin, and Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama Said Aqil Siradj.

The other appointees are former chairman of the Indonesian Church Association Priest Andreas Anangguru Yewangoe, Chairman of the Parisadha Hindu Dharma Indonesia Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, and Chairman of the Buddhayana Council, concurrently CEO of Garudafood Group Sudhamek.

The president also inaugurated Yudi Latief, who is currently the president director of the Pancasila Study Center of the University of Pancasila, as chairman of the UKP PIP.

The new institution is tasked with strengthening the implementation of the Pancasila state ideology in daily life, which is integrated with development programs such as poverty eradication and even welfare distribution.

(Reported by Syaiful Hakim/Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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