Ideology should also lay a foundation for a nation’s independence. Furthermore, it provides the nation with a guide and reference to develop and manage itself amidst international dynamics.

Indonesia has chosen Pancasila as its national ideology, believing it as the embodiment of spiritual, theological, sufistic and cultural values. That is to say that Indonesia has consciously and confidently accepted and established Pancasila as its national identity, henceforth manifested as the state philosophy.

A discourse on Pancasila may represent discussions of the deepest or the most substantive aspects of a nation, which is significantly important for all Indonesian citizens, who are the adherents of said ideology. In regard to its significant values, the debate over the bill on the Pancasila Ideology Guidelines (HIP) has become a sensitive, complex and fierce topic as the issues touch one of most fundamental aspects of the nation.

Unfortunately, the bill caused friction between certain groups and parties, who tended to weaken or at least obscure what is already clear about Pancasila.

The rise of the term "ketuhanan yang berkebudayaan” (culture-embedded divinity) and the absence of the nation’s affirmation of the prohibition of ideologies such as communism and Leninism in the bill is considered a setback for, if not contradictory to, the intention to strengthen the Pancasila ideology.

This suspicion may appear unreasonable or exaggerating. In fact, however, the discourse of the bill has triggered chaotic and heated debates. The situation has become so counterproductive that discussions on the issue were finally put to a halt with the House of Representatives’ decision to withdraw the draft law from the National Legislation Program.

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