Puan's Speech at the MPR: From a Love Triangle to a John Lennon-Style Singing of "Imagine"

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Chairperson of the DPR, Puan Maharani, emphasized the importance of maintaining the sovereignty of the people and the spirit of togetherness during the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD RI 2025 at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (15/8/2025). Heading towards the 100th anniversary of Indonesia's independence in 2045, Puan stated that there are still many significant tasks that remain unfinished.

Puan began her speech at the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD RI 2025 by mentioning the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence. She stated that after 80 years of Indonesia's existence, Pancasila has become a strong foundation that unites this republic as one nation and one homeland.

"More than that, our unity stands because we have Pancasila which unites all differences in ethnicity, religion, and culture," said Puan.

In addition to President Prabowo Subianto, the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD, which is part of the Annual Session of the MPR, was also attended by the ranks of the Red and White Cabinet ministers as well as the leaders of state institutions/agencies.

Among them are the Minister of State Prasetyo Hadi, the Minister of Research and Technology Brian Yuliarto, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, the Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi, the Minister of Village and Underdeveloped Regions Yandri Susanto, as well as the General Chair of PKB who is also the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar (Cak Imin).

Then, the Chairman of the Democratic Party who is also the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), Minister of Immigration Agus Adrianto, the Chairman of PAN who is also the Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.

In addition, there were also Minister of Religious Affairs Nazaruddun Umar, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Chairman of the National Economic Council Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie Setiadi, Commander of the National Armed Forces General Agus Subiyanto, and Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf.

Several former presidents and vice presidents were also invited guests. Those in attendance included the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the 6th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Try Sutrisno, the 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, the 11th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Boediono, and the 13th Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

Puan emphasized that Pancasila is not merely a set of values, but the essence of national and state life. However, she reminded that maintaining Indonesia as a great, sovereign nation rich in resources is not an easy task.

"This historical mandate demands the presence of true national strength, a strength capable of safeguarding sovereignty, building independence, and nurturing culture as the identity of the nation," said the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno.

According to Puan, this strength does not arise solely from weapons or wealth, but rather from the will of the people to unite as Indonesia. This will, which thrives in the spirit of mutual cooperation, grows from a sense of trust among one another, and is deeply rooted in the collective soul of all the nation's children.

"As the Javanese proverb goes, 'Eating or not eating, what matters is gathering.' This means prioritizing togetherness over pursuing individual interests," said Puan.

Puan stated that this social spirit is what distinguishes Indonesia from other nations. This sense of togetherness is reinforced in the constitution and manifested as a fundamental principle of the state. The people are sovereign over the power of the state, the people are sovereign over natural resources, and the people are sovereign over the nation's culture.

"This is our historical call today, to uphold the sovereignty of the people as the foundation of national strength. So that every policy, every step, and every decision of the state truly returns to the will of the people," emphasized the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR.

On the other hand, Puan also touched on the strategic role of political parties. Political parties are not merely vehicles to power, but bridges between the people and the state. It is from the parties that representatives of the people are born. It is from the parties that the president and regional heads are nominated. Therefore, political parties bear a significant responsibility as the pillars of the people's sovereignty.

Due to this strategic role, according to Puan, political parties must not cease to improve themselves. Parties should be a breeding ground for leaders who are not only eloquent but also capable of taking sides, working, and daring to take risks for the interests of the people. However, the success of political parties in fulfilling their roles greatly depends on the system that serves as their framework.

He hopes that democracy does not stop at the ballot box, but continues to grow in spaces of dialogue, in the people's kitchens, in village halls, and in parliament buildings so that every decision arises from a collective awareness, not just the agreement of a handful of elites. In a democracy, the people must have ample space to associate, gather, express opinions, and convey criticism. Now, public criticism takes on various creative forms and utilizes technological advancements, particularly social media, as a conduit for public voice.

He then referred to several public expressions that have been widely discussed recently, such as "just run away for now," the sharp insinuation "Dark Indonesia," the political joke "Konoha country," and new symbols like the "One Piece flag." This phenomenon, according to Puan, indicates that the aspirations and anxieties of the people are now being conveyed in their own contemporary language.

"For those in power, all the voices of the people that we hear are not merely words or images. Behind every word, there is a message. Behind every message, there is unease. And behind that unease, there is hope. Therefore, what is demanded from all of us is wisdom. Wisdom not only to listen but also to understand," he emphasized.

He hopes that whatever form and content the criticism conveyed by the people may take, it should not become a fire that burns the bonds of brotherhood. Criticism should not be a flame that divides the nation. On the contrary, criticism must serve as a light that illuminates our shared path. Criticism can be strong in substance and vehemently oppose policies; however, criticism is not a tool to incite violence, hatred, destroy the ethics and morals of society, let alone to undermine humanity.

"Use the space for criticism as a means to awaken those in power, improve policies, demand accountability, and encourage progress for all children of the nation. Honorable attendees of the session, the executive, legislative, and judicial powers must be separated, not to weaken each other, but to ensure that no single power stands above the others," he stated.

He also reminded that power is a tool, not a goal. A tool to eradicate poverty, advance backwardness, and provide a more decent life for all Indonesian people. Therefore, the holders of power in the DPR and the government must be able to use that power to discuss and seek solutions to the people's issues, which often take days, months, or even years.

"Don't let the people wait. The state must be present as quickly as possible in resolving people's affairs," he stressed.

On the same occasion, he expressed appreciation for the initiative of President Prabowo Subianto, who in a short period has addressed or quickly responded to several strategic issues that directly affect the interests of the people. Among them are the revocation of mining permits in the Raja Ampat Geopark area, the resolution of boundary disputes between Aceh and North Sumatra, and the policy of purchasing farmers' rice at a fair price.

This swift response deserves appreciation as it reflects the government's commitment to the interests of the people. However, it would be better if these measures were the result of careful and thorough planning, thus becoming part of the government's regular performance.

In the future, he said, the people certainly long for other issues beyond their capacity to be resolved by the government swiftly. The government's duty is not only to discuss the hopes of the people but also to realize them.

The government, in exercising its authority, must always remain self-aware because power is essentially meant to serve, assist, and empower the people. Power is not intended to intimidate the populace, but rather to resolve the issues of the people, even though these matters are often complex, akin to a love triangle between aspirations, budgets, and regulations.

"However complicated the 'love triangle' is, there is always a way to find the best solution for the nation and state; even though it sometimes feels painful and heartbreaking, we must move on," he said, greeted by applause from the audience.

In her speech, Puan then touched on geopolitical tensions and conflicts, trade wars, climate and energy crises, increasingly sharp economic inequality, technological disruption, and shifts in global power. To face them, she said, Indonesia needs a foundation of sovereignty, independence, and nationality, so that it can stand tall amidst global changes without losing its ideals and national identity.

He reminded that in building the foundation of the nation, Indonesia cannot ignore the fact that half of the potential of the Indonesian nation consists of women. In the era of inclusive development, the presence and contribution of women must be positioned not only within the framework of human rights but also as a prerequisite for the success of national development.

"It's not just men or women, but men and women who must be prosperous," said Puan.

She stated that currently, the representation of women in the DPR for the 2024–2029 period has reached the highest record in history, at approximately 21.9 percent or 127 out of 580 DPR members. This is a progress that deserves appreciation; however, it is still far from the ideal target of a minimum of 30 percent representation of women in legislative bodies, in line with the spirit of gender equality affirmation in Indonesian politics.

"The voice of women is the original note that contributes to the symphony of the nation's life. Without that note, the melody of civilization will lose its harmony, becoming merely a clanging sound that never forms a song. Men and women live in the same world, bearing the same responsibilities to build the civilization of the world," he said.

After conveying this, Puan spontaneously sang a lyric from the very popular song "Imagine" by John Lennon. "Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one," Puan sang, greeted by thunderous applause from the audience.

"That is how we should envision it; a place where women and men share space, share power, and share responsibilities for mutual progress. Women also have the right to hold public office and positions in the state at all levels," said Puan.

At the end of her speech, Puan mentioned that the year 2045 will be a historic milestone, when Indonesia celebrates 100 years of independence. This celebration is not merely a commemoration of a birthday, but also serves as the starting point for Indonesia Emas, an era of glory and progress for the nation that we all aspire to.

"We have 20 years to reach the year 2045. However, if we look at the journey of the last twenty years from 2005 to 2025, we can see significant progress, but there is still much work to be done," said Puan.

The pillars of national independence such as food, energy, and strategic manufacturing have not yet fully become the strengths of the nation. Basic public services remain unsatisfactory, and Indonesian democracy still requires profound transformation, particularly in the party system, elections, and the eradication of corruption. This indicates that a period of 20 years is not a long time for the development of a country as large and complex as Indonesia.

"If we continue to operate with the old mindset and work system, the dream of a Golden Indonesia 2045 will only remain a beautiful mirage that will never come to fruition. We still have time, very precious time, to take the best steps," said Puan.