PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Merdeka Building, Bandung City, became the location for the launch of the MPR History Book in Guarding People's Sovereignty and the Thematic Treatise on Amendments to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, Sunday (27/9/2026).

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan also attended the event, which carried the theme "Preserving the Constitutional Memory, History and MPR Minutes in Strengthening Indonesian Democracy."

The event was attended by the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), Ahmad Muzani. The presence of prominent figures and state officials at the site, a historical symbol of the nation's struggle, served as part of an effort to commemorate Indonesia's journey of democracy and statecraft.

In his remarks, Ahmad Muzani stated that the Merdeka Building holds significant historical significance for the journey of Asian and African nations. The building witnessed the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, when 29 countries from Asia and Africa gathered amidst the tensions of the Cold War.

According to him, the Asia-Africa Conference was an important momentum because the countries attending attempted to determine their stance based on their respective national interests without being dragged into the currents of Cold War politics.

"Now we are in a very historic building, which is very memorable in the history of the journey of nations, especially Asian and African nations," he said.

He assessed that the historical value of the Merdeka Building was not only related to the Asia Africa Conference, but also to the journey of Indonesian constitutional thought.

Muzani said the building was part of history when the members of the Constituent Assembly discussed Indonesia's future in state administration practices.

In the context of the book launch, Muzani emphasized that the two books were not merely historical records.

According to him, the book was born from the struggle of thoughts, debates, views, and ideals in the journey of Indonesian state administration, including the process of changing the 1945 Constitution in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

"This book is not merely a history book. It was born from a struggle of ideas. It was born from a debate, and it was born from a vision and a vision," he said.

Muzani also explained that the amendments to the 1945 Constitution have strengthened several principles in Indonesia's constitutional system. These include strengthening the presidential system of government, limiting presidential terms, affirming Indonesia as a state based on the rule of law, and strengthening respect for human rights.

Furthermore, he believes that direct presidential elections strengthen the relationship between the people and their prospective leaders. The public can learn about the programs offered by the prospective leaders and demand that they fulfill their political promises once elected.

Muzani stated that democracy is Indonesia's choice for managing public aspirations and managing the diversity that characterizes the nation. Indonesia, he explained, is a country with diverse tribes, customs, religions, cultures, ethnicities, islands, and languages.

"The best way to manage these differences is through democracy," he said.

On that occasion, Muzani also said that the MPR would not be rash in amending the 1945 Constitution. He said that various aspirations, views, thoughts, ideas, and concepts from various elements of society would continue to be listened to.

He also proposed that future publications include minutes of the nation's founding fathers' debates within the BPUPKI (Indonesian Constitutional Court) and PPKI (Indonesian Constitutional Court), discussions in the Constituent Assembly (Konstituante), and President Sukarno's speech on Presidential Decree. He believes all of these records are an essential part of Indonesian constitutional practice.

Muzani hopes that the book he launched will serve as a reminder that Indonesia's constitutional journey must remain within the framework of the constitution, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

The event was also attended by the Deputy Speaker of the DPD RI, Deputy Chair of the Judicial Commission of the Republic of Indonesia, Constitutional Justice, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Chair of the DPD Group in the MPR and Chair of the Socialization Agency, Deputy Chair of the Socialization Agency, Head of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency, Head of the National Zakat Collection Agency, Chair of the Constitutional Study Commission and its members, rectors and academics from universities and high schools, Acting Secretary General of the MPR RI and staff of the MPR RI Secretariat General, and staff of the Bandung City Forkopimda. (Bandung City Communication and Information Service/rka)