Erick Thohir urges youth to fly Merah Putih on world stage
The message came during the 81st RI Independence Day ceremony at Istana Merdeka, where athletes were called “pahlawan sesungguhnya.”
Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir framed the 81st anniversary of RI independence as a call to boldly raise Merah Putih on the international stage. After attending the ceremony at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, on Monday, Erick highlighted the role of Indonesian athletes competing at the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics as a concrete example of the spirit of independence. He called them the true pahlawan because they carry Indonesia’s name abroad. Erick also stressed the role of young people in shaping the nation’s future and the need for broader space for youth to develop. President Prabowo Subianto led the ceremony as inspector, followed by the flag-raising by Paskibraka and a fighter jet flypast over Jakarta.