To promote tolerance, diversity, and religious freedom in Indonesia through the Pancasila ideology fostering, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency collaborated with Universitas Gadjah Mada, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, and INFID (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development). The collaboration is expected to produce knowledge through qualitative and quantitative research and studies, to provide knowledge generation and problem-solving.
The collaboration is also expected to strengthen Islamic education teachers’ capacity and Islamic lecturers’ capacity in Public and Private Universities for promoting a tolerant and inclusive Islamic education.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP), Prof. Drs. K.H. Yudian Wahyudi, MA., Ph.D, UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU, ASEAN.Eng, and Rector-in-charge of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Dr. Phil. Sahiron, M.A at the UGM Hall on Saturday afternoon (13/6).
Yudian Wahyudi said that amid the pandemic crisis of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) through the Directorate of Inter-Institutional Relations and Cooperation, Deputy for Inter-Institutional Relations, Socialization, Communication, and Networking was always optimistic in the implementation and grounding of Pancasila in Indonesia. It is proven by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BPIP and the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN) Yogyakarta, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID).
“This signing is a joint effort of the four institutions to promote tolerance, diversity and religious freedom in Indonesia and to take advantage and synergize shared abilities and resources amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
This collaboration also regulates holding an annual tolerance forum to share knowledge, advance policies, and strengthen networks (peer learning, peer sharing). Besides, providing assistance and dissemination of tolerant areas for the ranks of City/Regency Governments and various elements of the civil community, implementing advocacy that includes prevention, assistance, and monitoring in the context of implementing and controlling and evaluating the development of the Pancasila ideology.
The Head of BPIP said that this agreement is valid for three years. The parties would carry out regular and gradual control and evaluation; thus, sustainability would be achieved to accelerate Pancasila’s grounding.
“The output of the signing of this MoU by all parties must be followed up with the implementation of concrete activities/implementation,” said Yudian.
The UGM Rector stated that Pancasila as a way of life for Indonesia must continue to be strengthened and continue to be internalized in the Indonesian community. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Pancasila’s values were clearly implemented in various social activities that could run well.
“How do we see mutual cooperation within the local community to protect their village or areas. Everything was done well in the villages. The high level of mutual cooperation can also be seen in the large number of social funds collected from various methods of collecting social funds, and the funds are then delivered to those affected by Covid-19,” he said.
Likewise, the Rector assessed religious leaders of any religion that they suggested to pray and worship at home. According to him, such things show the values of Pancasila growing in Indonesian society.
“However, not all of them are optimal or good in practicing Pancasila values. There are still aspects that need to be strengthened and internalized in society, such as whether the central or regional government’s regulations follow Pancasila’s values. Or do private companies in running their businesses carry out their businesses based on practical guidelines following the values of Pancasila. I think, of course, we still have a lot to strengthen and internalize to the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rector-in-charge of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Dr. Phil. Sahiron, M.A., hopes that the signed cooperation can be implemented immediately. He agreed always to defend Pancasila amid the challenges.
“There are still groups that want to replace the nation’s ideology with other ideologies based on religion or whatever,” he said.
