Haeril Halim, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said the cultural costume dress code for the Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace on Thursday morning was his own idea. He added that he wanted to show that Indonesia had a rich and diverse culture.
"I want to let the people know that Indonesia is very diverse. This is Indonesia," he told reporters before the ceremony. "We know that our nation has hundreds of types of cultural attire," he added.
For that reason, Jokowi said, members of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) also had to use traditional attire during the ceremony.
"For example, this member is wearing Malay cultural clothes, another member is wearing Minahasa clothes. Can you notice them?" he said while pointing at the Paspampres members around him.
Jokowi himself wore traditional attire from South Kalimantan, while his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, wore traditional attire from Palembang and another former president, B. J. Habibie, wore traditional attire from Bugis. The guests at the ceremony were sporting traditional attire from across Indonesia. (ecn)