Jakarta – Speaking before representatives of universities from across the country who had gathered in Bali on Tuesday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called up all universities to take a firm stance against ideologies that aimed to replace Pancasila, amid concerns of rising intolerance on campuses.
"Social media is very open, that we are unaware of the infiltration [of anti-Pancasila] ideologies. They appear in soft and up-to-date ways, which can easily attract our attention and make us forget that we already have Pancasila," Jokowi said in a press statement released by the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry.
Citing radicalism as an example of the dangers posed by such views, Jokowi also applauded the universities' commitment to tackling radicalism.
Around 2,000 rectors and lecturers from public and private universities around the country had gathered on Monday in Nusa Dua for a two-day event to denounce radicalism and declare their support for Pancasila.
"I am so proud that leaders of Indonesian universities have declared their commitment to maintaining the unity of Indonesia," said Jokowi.
At the event, the President also called on university rectors to promote Pancasila in their curricula and extracurricular activities, and to campaign for the state ideology in places of worship on campuses. (msa/ipa)