Herry Dahana reminds Indonesia that the 2045 gold is not enough capital optimism

JAKARTA - Member of the Board of Trustees of the Indonesian Christian Movement Raya or GEKIRA, Irjen Purn. Herry Dahana, reminded that Indonesia Gold 2045 will not be achieved with optimism alone. According to Herry, the dream of becoming a developed country must be proven through real work, clean government, and bold political decisions.

Herry conveyed this view in an article entitled Indonesia Emas 2045: Saatnya Optimisme Dibuktikan dengan Kerja Nyata.

"No nation becomes advanced just because it has natural wealth. Great nations are born from leadership that dares to make decisions, a clean government, and the ability to build people's trust," said Herry in a statement received, Tuesday, July 7.

The former Deputy for Politics and Strategy of Wantannas RI assessed that Indonesia is in an important momentum. The government of President Prabowo Subianto started working in the midst of not light global pressure, ranging from slowing the world economy, geopolitical rivalries, technological disruption, to the threat of food and energy crises.

According to Herry, this condition requires Indonesia to have a strong economic foundation and effective government governance.

He assessed that a number of strategic government programs, such as Free Nutritious Meals or MBG, industrial downstream, strengthening food and energy security, human resource development, and investment acceleration, are an important part of the path to a developed country.

"Various policies have begun to gain public legitimacy because the benefits are beginning to be felt directly by the public. Public confidence will grow when policies are able to answer the real needs of the people," he said.

Herry quoted the results of the Indonesian Political Indicator survey at the beginning of 2026 which showed that about 72.8 percent of the public were satisfied with the implementation of MBG. As many as 60 percent of respondents supported the program to reach all Indonesian children. More than a third of respondents also admitted that they had family members who had received direct benefits.

He also highlighted the achievement of national investment. The realization of investment throughout 2025 is said to reach around IDR 1,931 trillion or exceed the government's target. Investment in the downstream sector grew 43.3 percent compared to the previous year and absorbed around 2.71 million workers.

"In the midst of a global economic slowdown, these achievements show investor confidence in Indonesia's economic prospects remain intact," said Herry.

However, he reminded that the success of development should not only be read from investment figures or economic growth. A more important measure, he said, is the benefits that really reach the community.

"The real success is when the benefits of development are truly felt by the community through increased employment, increased welfare, reduced poverty, and increasing development throughout Indonesia," he said.

Herry also highlighted the threat of corruption. According to him, corruption is still one of the biggest obstacles to the Golden Indonesia 2045.

"Every rupiah that is embezzled actually reduces the people's right to better education, health, infrastructure, and public services," he said.

Therefore, he assessed that eradicating corruption, bureaucratic reform, digitization of public services, and professional and independent law enforcement must go hand in hand with the development agenda.

In a democracy, Herry emphasized that criticism is still needed. Support for the government, he said, should not eliminate the function of public control.

"Objective, data-based criticism, and constructive criticism are actually positive energy so that every policy continues to be improved for the benefit of the people," he said.

Herry said Indonesia has a large capital to become a developed country. These capitals include natural resources, demographic bonuses, geopolitical positions, and a large domestic market.

However, all of these potentials can only produce results if accompanied by work consistency, reform, legal certainty, and the ability to maintain national unity.

"People do not demand the government to be perfect. What they expect is a government that works hard, dares to make decisions, is open to criticism, and is able to bring real benefits to daily life," said Herry.

The Trisakti University Law Doctoral Program student emphasized that Indonesia Emas 2045 is not an automatic goal.

"National optimism must not stop as a political slogan. Optimism must be built through measurable, felt, and accountable results," he said.