Jakarta. Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri wants members of the flag-raising squad to promote the state ideology Pancasila.

Megawati is the head of the Steering Committee of the Pancasila Ideology Agency (BPIP). This is the same agency that is responsible for organizing the prestigious flag-hoisting troop. Every year, Indonesia selects dozens of teens to join the flag-raising squad for the Independence Day ceremony, which falls on August 17.

However, Megawati said that these teens’ jobs were far from over after the upcoming ceremony. Speaking at the squad’s inauguration, Megawati revealed her intentions of turning these teens into Pancasila ambassadors.

“I have prepared a new role [for the flag-hoisting squad]. I want to turn them into Pancasila ambassadors. Because many young people do not know about the history of our country,” Megawati said.

Megawati said that the squad would be perfect for the job, citing that anyone who joins the flag-raising squad -- locally known as Paskibraka -- is someone who is well-versed in Pancasila. For context, Paskibraka members have to undergo a stringent recruitment process. These candidates also come from across the archipelago.

“I have been a supervisor for a long time. I was a member of Paskibraka in 1963,” Megawati said, while adding that having Pancasila ambassadors was necessary to spur a sense of nationalism among youths.

Young people nowadays don't know much about Indonesian history, including how the country was formed, according to Megawati.

“Indonesian youths need to know about Pancasila.”

As many as 76 students took their oath as Paskibraka members earlier that day. Indonesia will mark its 80th year of independence on Sunday.

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