Indonesia Raya Played at the House of Representatives, Here is What UMM Lecturers Say

Author : Humas | Thursday, November 14, 2024 09:11 WIB

Implementation of the Ceremony at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (Photo: Special)

The People's Representative Council (DPR) must lead the way in fostering nationalism across all elements of Indonesian society, representing the interests of the people. This was emphasized by Prof. Dr. Trisakti Handayani, M.M., a lecturer in Pancasila Education and Citizenship at Muhammadiyah Malang University (UMM). He appreciated the new policy, which mandates the singing of the national anthem "Indonesia Raya" in the DPR building. The playing of the independence anthem “Indonesia Raya” in the DPR building is expected to spark and reignite the spirit of nationalism in that environment.

The Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at UMM explained that the policy of singing “Indonesia Raya” should serve as a reminder of the performance of DPR members. Although the task of a DPR member is very demanding, representing the aspirations of each electoral district across Indonesia, this should not hinder them from providing the best performance. He believes that besides boosting nationalism, this policy can also help maintain unity within the DPR, especially amidst the differing factions and the varied interests of the members.

“The policy of singing the national anthem is not only carried out in Indonesia. Other ASEAN countries such as Thailand have already implemented the policy. Even the Thai national anthem is played every day in public spaces, so that all people listen and sing the national song,” he explained.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of the appropriate behavior when the national anthem is played. According to Article 62 of Law No. 24 of 2009, every Indonesian citizen who hears and sings “Indonesia Raya” is required to stand upright and show respect. Thus, the meaning of “Indonesia Raya” is considered sacred to the people of Indonesia, especially when remembering the sacrifices of the national heroes who fought for the country's independence. This is the reason why Indonesian citizens must maintain their nationalistic attitude whenever “Indonesia Raya” is played.

However, Trisakti stressed that merely singing the anthem is not enough. There are other actions that can be taken to encourage the DPR to perform more effectively. One of these is continuous oversight. The DPR must ensure that laws and policies are made in accordance with the interests of the people. "If there are policies that harm the people and do not align with their interests, then the role of oversight becomes crucial. The DPR should avoid creating controversies among the public, especially those arising from policies that do not serve the people's interests," he said firmly.

Meanwhile, another PPKN (Civics Education) lecturer at UMM, Wahyu Kurniawan, S.Pd., M.Pd., said that in the future, the “Indonesia Raya” anthem should not only be played and sung in the DPR building but also in other public spaces. This is especially important for instilling a sense of nationalism among today's youth. To maintain the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), it is crucial to cultivate a habit of nationalism. Therefore, the hope is that "Indonesia Raya" will be played regularly in other public places at designated times.

"Another hope is that “Indonesia Raya” serves as a reminder for the DPR to provide their best performance. It should not perpetuate the negative stigma surrounding the DPR, so that public trust in the DPR increases," he emphasized. (zaf/wil/fajr)

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