Rocky Gerung Arrives at the Palace, Reminds of Environment and Young People

Seskab Teddy Indra Wijaya with Rocky Gerung/PHOTO: Teddy Kurniawan-VOI

JAKARTA - Political observer Rocky Gerung was present at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, during the inauguration of Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat. Rocky said the environment issue would be an important measure for young people in assessing politics.

Rocky said he came as a representative of civil society to witness the inauguration. He also said he knew Jumhur as an activist, intellectual, and labor figure.

"Jumhur Hidayat is a former prisoner, but he is an intellectual. He studied labor, economics, and the environment from ITB," said Rocky, Monday, April 27.

According to Rocky, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is not an ordinary ministry. Environmental issues have become a global conversation and close to the anxiety of the younger generation.

"The Ministry of Environment is actually a global ministry, not just a ministry in Indonesia. Because the environmental issue is a global issue," he said.

Rocky said there were around 70 million Gen Z in Indonesia who were waiting for the government's attitude towards the environment. According to him, this group will be a political vote for 2029.

If politicians do not understand environmental ethics, said Rocky, young people will see the government fail to read their anxieties.

Rocky Gerung/PHOTO: Teddy Kurniawan-VOI

"They end up having to live with the stench, with the garbage, with the uncertainty," he said.

Rocky assessed that Jumhur could bring a civil society perspective to the environmental sector. Jumhur's background as an activist and labor figure is said to make him understand economic and political problems.

However, Rocky also reminded the Ministry of Environment and Energy that it was vulnerable to being drawn into many interests. He said the environmental sector could be an arena for oligarchs and politicians to fight.

Therefore, Rocky said that civil society needs to monitor the work of the ministry.

"I am not part of the cabinet, but I want to guarantee that civil society will be with Mr. Jumhur," he said.

Rocky also admitted that he had shaken hands with President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, Prabowo joked by saying that he was still a resident.

"His face is a joking face. I was really dissed," said Rocky. He said he still remained in a critical position against the government, even though he was present at the Palace.