Champions of democracy have praised Indonesia for upholding the concept, at Sunday’s opening of the 6th Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in Jakarta.

In his opening address, Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Indonesia was the only country in Southeast Asia that managed to nurture democracy despite challenges such as corruption and marginalization.

“[In Indonesia] there’s a firm commitment to build, strengthen the institutions of freedom and democracy that make us all in the region very proud to be associated with the great people of Indonesia,” he said.