Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Thursday the four basic pillars of the state – Pancasila state ideology, the 1945 Constitution, the unitary state (NKRI) and pluralism – were non-negotiable.

"Entering the era of globalization and national transformation, we are faced again with challenges that pose threats to the four main pillars. In facing these threats, we need to stress that Pancasila – as the state ideology, a philosophy and a way of life – is absolute," he said in his state of the union address at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta.

The President said Pancasila was a tool to unite the nation and strengthen society; and despite a decree by the People's Consultative Assembly annulling the guidelines for implementing Pancasila, "let us revive, implement and maintain it as our state ideology".

"The 'diversity-in-unity' principle must be constantly interpreted and applied in our daily lives to safeguard the ideology of pluralism in regard to the nation's different ethnic groups, religions, languages and cultures," he said.

"Pancasila and the Constitution are not sacred, but no space should be given to any group wanting to replace the state ideology and change the Constitution's preamble."

The President was responding to sectarian movements offering alternative ideologies to replace Pancasila, and to the emergence of sharia ordinances in several regions around the country.

However the President warned despite growing democracy, with more emphasis on human rights and liberty, freedom needed to be exercised properly and responsibly.

"We do not want to give people unlimited freedom because it will disturb national harmony. Let us exercise democracy and the freedom to fight for citizen's interests, address issues and improve social welfare."

The President said that after three years in office, he had been unable to optimally implement three mid-term national programs on security, democracy and the economic sector due to rising oil prices and natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and landslides.

Legislators harshly criticized the speech, claiming increased threats to the state's sovereignty were due to a weak government.

Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle at the House, Tjahjo Kumolo, said his faction was disappointed with the speech as it indirectly showed the President did not understand the complexity of problems facing the nation.

"The President and his government have no concrete programs to safeguard the four pillars and maintain the country's sovereignty, as has been evident in the signing of the controversial defense cooperation agreement with Singapore," he said.

Slamet Effendi Yusuf of the Golkar Party criticized the state address as mere rhetoric in an apparent attempt to satisfy the people, saying law enforcement and legal certainty were needed to defend the four pillars, maintain pluralism, promote a harmonious society and implement economic development programs.

"In fact, the government has remained silent in the face of increased threats to pluralism. The government has taken no action against those groups that wish to replace Pancasila and the Constitution, nor against the emergence of religion-based bylaws in numerous regions," he said.