When Jokowi Shows Indonesian Wisdom in Southeast Asia

Meaningful quotes have an important role when inserted in a statement or narrative. Not only beautifying the delivery, its existence can also be a means of conveying something concise and concise.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN - RUSMAN

President Joko Widodo delivered a speech at the ASEAN Foreign Minister Courtesy Call event at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, on Friday (July 14, 2023).

There was an interesting moment when President Joko Widodo gave a speech at the Courtesy Call of the Minister of Foreign Affairs ASEAN at the Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Friday (14/7/2023) last weekend. This happened when the Head of State quoted a local proverb, namely from the treasures of Javanese culture, at the regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

”There is a saying in Indonesia, that is win without cheering, which means we can be victorious without demeaning others, without defeating others. For this reason, I invite all of us, let us be honorable winners, win without cheering," said President Jokowi.

There is a saying in Indonesia, that is win without cheering, which means we can be winners without demeaning others.

One of the closest contexts to this saying is in President Jokowi's previous statement. "We ASEAN countries, developing countries, need understanding, need wisdom, and also need support, both from developed countries and friendly countries, to abandon the zero sum approach and take the mutually beneficial," said the President.

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BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN - RUSMAN

President Joko Widodo delivered a speech at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Courtesy Call event at the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta on Friday, July 14, 2023.

When asked for his opinion on Sunday (16/7/2023), writer and lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Ibnu Wahyudi, stated that sometimes there are people who prefer to use Latin quotes. This is not unrelated to the fact that Latin is synonymous with the language of science.

"However, local treasures—Javanese culture, in the context of the speech win without cheering delivered by President Jokowi—does not mean that they do not have universal power," said Ibnu Wahyudi.

At this point, according to Ibnu, President Jokowi in his role as Indonesia's Head of State has helped elevate the noble Javanese expression on the international stage, namely when receiving courtesy visits from ASEAN Foreign Ministers. "I think this also confirms that the orientation of knowledge does not always have to be Latin, Ancient Greek, or anything else, but can also come from the oriental (treasure trove), from the East, including Indonesia," he said.

In line with the issue of Malay language as the ASEAN language, Ibnu stated that implicitly President Jokowi also wants to remind not to underestimate Indonesia. Indonesia is a large country with 718 diverse regional languages and cultures.

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Jokowi's speech win without cheering revealed the existence of local wisdom, but with a universal dimension which is recorded in a proverb. "When talking about universal values, the essence of victory, right, doesn't always have to be shown by clapping the chest or waving a flag," said Ibnu.

Speaking of universal values, the essence of victory is not always demonstrated by patting oneself on the chest or waving flags.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Residents prepare a harvest mountain with the backdrop of Mount Sindoro when carrying out the nyadran tradition in Kledung Village, Kledung District, Temanggung Regency, Central Java, on Friday (7/10/2022).

The phrase win without singing is one of the four "paradoxical" points taught by RMP Sosrokartono, RA Kartini's older sibling. The other three points—following the free translation—, namely sugih without banda (wealthy without wealth), nglurug without reinforcements(attack without allies), and digdaya without magic" aji (magic without magical objects or spells).

Not only quoted by President Jokowi, the adage win without singing is also a memorable philosophy for the second President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soeharto. Textually, this is at least illustrated by the inclusion of this saying in a book entitled Points of Javanese Culture, Hanggayuh Kasampurnaning Hurip Berbudi Bawaleksana Ngudi Sejatining Becik.

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This is a life guide book compiled by President Soeharto and given to his children. Soeharto's eldest daughter, Hardiyanti Rukmana, wrote a preface for the book which was printed by PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada and first published on the 40th wedding anniversary of Soeharto and Siti Hartinah Soeharto on December 26, 1987.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Excerpt from Bung Karno's speech "My struggle was easier because it was against the colonialists, but your struggle will be harder because it is against your own people" coloring a mural on RE Martadinata Street, Cipayung, Ciputat, South Tangerang City, Banten, on Tuesday (11/6/2018).

The first president of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir Soekarno or Bung Karno, often included quotes or expressions, including those from the Javanese language, in his speeches. This can be traced, for example, to a book entitled From the Proclamation to Resopim, a publication of the Ministry of Information containing the proclamation speech uttered by Bung Karno every August 17 from 1945 to 1961.

There was Bung Karno's speech delivered on Sunday, August 17, 1947, at 10.15 at the Presidential Palace (Gedung Agung) Yogyakarta. At the end of the speech, which was delivered when the Republic of Indonesia was only two years old, Bung Karno uttered the phrase rawe-rawe rantas, malang-malang putung. Something that sticks out or blocks it must be cut down and anything that crosses or blocks it must be broken.

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It is undeniable that proverbs and idioms, or typical expressions, have proven to be quite effective in conveying a message in a succinct form. Noble or meaningful values ​​can be stored in short yet impactful sentences.

The expressions included in speeches or statements do not only come from within the country. There are also those that come from the treasures of other countries. This was heard two years ago, when Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, representing the Indonesian government, sent humanitarian aid grants to India to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

CYPRIANUS ANTO SAPTOWALYONO

Screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat as Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi gives a press statement on the release of RI Government grants to India for handling the Covid-19 pandemic at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday (12/5/2021).

The grant of 200 units of oxygen concentrators to India was symbolically handed over by Foreign Minister Retno to Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Manoj Kumar Bharti, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday, 12 May 2021. Prior to this, on 10 May 2021, the Indonesian Government together with Indonesian association and industry players had also sent 1,400 cylinders of oxygen to India.

This humanitarian aid is a manifestation of Indonesia's national and people's solidarity towards India, which is expected to help the country in handling the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, since the beginning of the pandemic, Indonesia and India have been working together to fight against Covid-19.

"At the beginning of the pandemic, I still remember very well, because I immediately made communication with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, how the Government of India facilitated the export of medicinal raw materials which at that time were urgently needed by Indonesia can be obtained by Indonesia. India also plays an important role in supporting the procurement of vaccines through a multilateral framework, (namely) through the Covax Facility," said Retno.

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When expressing her gratitude to Manoj Kumar Bharti for India's support, Foreign Minister Retno also quoted a line of English idiom that upholds the value of friendship. “Now is the time to show our support. Indonesia will stand with India in this difficult condition. We are committed to sharing with Indians. Moreover, a friend in need is a friend indeed (a true friend is a friend who accompanies us in times of trouble)," said Retno.

We are committed to sharing with Indians. Moreover, a friend in need is a friend indeed (a true friend is a friend who accompanies us in times of trouble).

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Lion dancers with members of the Indonesian Navy following a group exercise at the Ujung Koarmada II Pier in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (31/1/2023).

A pithy expression is also commonly quoted around the world. Illinois State Senator Barrack Obama—who later became the 44th President of the United States—during a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2004, he also quoted the motto of the country of "Uncle Sam". ”E pluribus unum. Out of many, one,” Obama exclaimed at the time.

In terms of meaning, the expression e pluribus unum from Latin that Obama quoted to describe the spirit of unity is in line with Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, a sentence contained in the Book of Sutasoma by Mpu Tantular and later used as the national motto of Indonesia. Different but one.

Sentences of noble value are proven to be timeless and timeless. Going back to the Javanese saying, win without cheering, isn't this sentence also relevant when placed in the context of the simultaneous general elections and regional head elections in 2024? Please compete with dignity to become an honorable winner. The losers should not be disappointed and the winners should not be conceited.