Becoming The Youngest Member Of The House Of Representatives, Annisa Mahesa: Viewed Next To Your Eyes, It's OK

Photo via @annisa_mahesa

JAKARTA - Member of the House of Representatives, Annisa Maharani Azzahra Mahesa, was the leader of the interim House of Representatives at the inauguration of council members for the period 2024-2029. He is proud to be asked to lead the DPR session, even though he is only a temporary leader.

"It feels mixed, proud, happy and very privileged. But of course I feel like I bear a huge responsibility," said Annisa at the DPR Building, Tuesday, October 1.

A total of 580 members of the DPR for the period 2024-2029 took an oath/promise at the inauguration this morning. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and elected president Prabowo Subianto and cabinet ministers.

Annisa was appointed as the interim chairman of the DPR because she was the youngest member of the DPR. He chaired the inaugural session for DPR members for the 2024-2029 period with Guntur Sasono who is the oldest member of the DPR.

Annisa admitted that she was touched when she made an oath/promise as a member of the DPR. Despite being the youngest member of the DPR, he admitted that he was ready to prove his performance for the benefit of the people.

"Because saying the pledge and oath of promise that is so sacred, it is not a promise to play. Especially as a young generation. Maybe people looking down on each other is okay, we prove it," said the woman who is often called Icha.

Icha is the daughter of the late Desmond Junaidi Mahesa, a member of the DPR for more than 1 period from the 1998 activist background. During his time as a member of the DPR, Desmond was known as a fairly vocal legislator.

Being the son of a well-known politician, Icha is considered not a burden, but a privilege that must be accounted for. He is also not ashamed to admit that he has entered politics because he was inspired by his father's struggle.

"My father is famous as a very critical and vocal person, I am not ashamed to admit to being his son," explained Icha.

Despite getting access and privileges thanks to his father figure, the 23-year-old woman emphasized that she was elected through the general election mechanism. To be able to win the DPR seat, Icha emphasized that purely thanks to her hard work went directly to the constituents.

"Alhamdulillah, I was elected as a member of the DPR RI through the election because I went down directly to face, met constituents in the electoral district. To remove the negative stigma, how, firstly there must be self-awareness from yourself," he said.

Icha received 122,470 votes in the 2024 Pileg in the electoral district (Dapil) Banten II. Icha's vote outperformed a number of senior politicians such as the Deputy General Chair of PAN, Yandri Susanto, former Mayor of Cilegon Edi Ariadi and former Mayor of Serang Tubagus Haerul Jaman.

For his success, Icha remembers the message from his father. He also wants to use privilege as a son of a well-known figure to support his constitutional performance in the DPR for the benefit of the community.

"If the quote from my father that I always remember: live once give meaning, then die. I want to follow the quote like my father," said Icha.

"How with this privilege we have to give back to society, we have to make that privilege benefit others," concluded the Melbourne University graduate.