President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) has become a bridge for current changes and for the aspirations as well as ideas of the people. 

The President made the remarks in his speech on state institutions performance report he delivered at the MPR Annual Session at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Wednesday.

President Jokowi said the MPRs role rested on the value of deliberation, representation, brotherhood, and mutual cooperation in the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"As the guardian of ideology, MPR firmly guards Pancasila (state ideology) as a guidance of life in society, nation and state," said the President.

On that occasion the President also welcomed the MPRs resolve to cooperate with the presidential working unit for the development and popularization of the Pancasila state ideology.

Meanwhile, for the task of reviewing the state administration system, the MPR has successfully formulated the arrangement of the national economic system.

"We expect to support the successful equitable distribution of development," the President said.

The President also said the MPR has facilitated a number of national activities in order to expand the application of ethics in the nation and state life in all segments of society.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Peoples Consultative Assembly, Zulkifli Hasan, in his speech said that in accordance with their constitutional functions and duties, the Peoples Consultative Assembly also accepted the aspirations of the people related to state administration and other inputs for the progress of the nation.

He said there were a number of aspirations related to the outlines of state policy and also the national economic system in accordance with Article 33 of the 1945 constitution.

The annual session of MPR marks the beginning of a series of state events that take place in the DPR/MPR compound in Jakarta on August 16, 2017.

The annual session of the Peoples Consultative Assembly begans at 9 a.m and will be followed by a joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD).

The DPR will hold a plenary session at noon starting at 2 p.m with the agenda of hearing the governments Financial Notes and the 2018 Draft State Budget. (*)

Source : ANTARA