Anies Baswedan Gives A Public Lecture At Sophia University Tokyo

Anies Baswedan gave a public lecture at Sophia University, Tokyo, Friday (20/9). (ANTARA/Juwita Trisna Rahayu)

JAKARTA - Anies Baswedan gave a public lecture at Sophia University, Tokyo, with a course entitled "Democracy in Their Hands: How Young People Are Struggling for Leadership in the Digital Age".

The former presidential candidate for the 2024 election returned to the campus after being a student of the summer program 31 years ago while he was still studying at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.

In the public lecture, Anies explained that the involvement of youth in democracy is very important where there are three inseparable slices, namely youth, technology and democracy.

"These three interceptions are important for Indonesia and the world to answer challenges and create new colors in democracy," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 21.

He detailed the five main points why youth should actively participate in democracy, namely for representation and inclusiveness, innovation and fresh perspectives, long-term stability and sustainability of democracy, digital literacy and technological adaptation, global perspectives and engagement.

What is the key component that makes young people unique compared to other groups? The answer is novelty. They bring something different in seeing things, something that parents have been going through for years," he said.

The governor of Jakarta for the 2017-2022 period gave an example of a zebra cross in Dukuh Atas, Central Jakarta, which was seen and used as a catwalk for young people while ordinary people saw it only as a tool to help cross the road.

According to him, a fresh perspective is also needed in the life of democracy.

Anies added that if youth are given sovereignty, then they will become key agents for development and peace.

On the other hand, if they are not considered or involved, it will impoverish democracy.

He also emphasized the importance of meritocracy in healthy political life.

According to Anies, most Indonesians do not pay attention to candidates for heads of state or regional, politics, government policies in their daily lives.

Based on the survey, he said, a third of the new voters will determine the leader's choice in the days approaching the voting, the rest will determine at the last second because he is busy with his business.

Anies explained that that is why meritocracy is important where a political party that has a moral responsibility to have a meritocratic process in carrying out candidates for any position.

If that is done, he believes, whoever is nominated will not harm the public.

"On the other hand, if the meritocracy is absent, it will give birth to impromptu candidates," he said.

The lecture, which was attended by hundreds of participants, also presented interactive questions and book distribution for the pens.

Anies also advised Indonesian students in Japan to create the best image in the Sakura country.