Head of the Presidential Working Unit for the Implementation of Pancasila (UKP-PIP), YudiLatif (left) stands with the nine members of the UKP-PIP steering committee (second left to right): Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, Said Aqil Siroj, Gen. (Ret.) Try Sutrisno, Ma’ruf Amin, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, former Health Ministry chairman Mahfud MD, Andreas Anangguru Yewangoe, Sudhamek and former Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif. The photograph was taken after the inauguration of the UKP-PIP at the state palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (7/6).
President Joko Widodo has sworn in the Steering Committee and chairperson of the Presidential Working Unit for the Implementation of Pancasila Ideology (UKP-PIP). A single step has been taken.
Many parties welcomed the formation of the presidential working unit, even though others are still waiting for what the UKP-PIP will do and how its relationship will be with other ministries that are tasked with taking care of ideology. The UKP-PIP, led by Yudi Latif, consists of a number of noted figures from different backgrounds, such as Megawati Soekarnoputri, Try Sutrisno, KH Said Aqil Siroj, Mahfud MD, Syafii Maarif, Andreas A Yewangoe,and Wisnu Bawa Tenaya, although some community groups feel they are not represented.
The existence of the UKP-PIP, with its different approach and context to the Agency for the Propagation of Pancasila (BP7) of the New Order, is expected to revive Pancasila as the national ideology and philosophy. It is a fact that, after the New Order\'s rule ended, this nation entered an era of political liberalization. In the name of freedom and democracy, political ideology developed in the post-reform era and has not yet found a common platform. All of the ornaments of the New Order, including Pancasila, disappeared or were unconsciously eliminated from public discourse.
Aside from the weaknesses of the implementation of Pancasila in everyday life, such as the still-wide social gap and the concept of consensual deliberation (musyawarah mufakat) that was replaced by individualism, Pancasila requires reestablishment and rejuvenation. Research findings by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting show that 9.2 percent of respondents still do not want the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and Pancasila.
As the foundation and ideology of the state, Pancasila must be the element that unites Indonesia, which has been diverse from the beginning. However, aside from placing the values of Pancasila as the cornerstone of state policy, the social reality that moves diametrically away from the values of Pancasila must also be addressed.
The two main issues that need immediate attention from the government and the UKP-PIP are national unity and social justice for all Indonesians. The national fabric,which has been torn apart and is creating social polarization as a result of playing the identity politics game, should receive attention on how it can be knitted back together.
The issues of social inequality and economic disparities, which are in direct contrast to the principle of social justice, need to be resolved immediately. It is time to think about the implementation of economic ideas that give justice in order to address the problem of inequality. This requires the initiative of the political elites.
