TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama said there was no need for Indonesians to be worried about the ongoing political uproar in the nation. He added the simmering political situation would not affect the national ideology of Pancasila.
"Anyone attempting to change or replace the Pancasila ideology will founder," said Ahok.
Ahok's statement was referring to the recent passage of the regional election law that altered the mechanism of regional elections from direct elections by the people to indirect elections by legislative councils (DPRD).
The passage was immediately followed by a notion by the Red and White coalition, which is spearheaded by the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, to scrap the direct presidential elections to elections by members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Ahok said Pancasila was solid proof of a robust foundation for the country, and that it would be resistant to any attempted coup as Indonesians had continued to cling to democracy. Ahok also said that Pancasila would be the ideal base for Indonesia with its diverse races and ethnicities.
LINDA HAIRANI
