Puan Maharani's Steps That Always Give Opportunities For The Young Generation

Puan Maharani (Photo via Dok PDIP)

JAKARTA - The commitment of the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, to empowering the younger generation, has received appreciation. In addition to fighting for many groups of women and children, Puan is known to pay close attention to issues about young people, even since she served as Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

"DPR Speaker Puan Maharani has shown a strong commitment to empowering young people, including people with disabilities. This action is a positive step that underscores the importance of inclusion and equality in politics," said Communication Analyst Silvanus Alvin, Friday, June 23.

On various occasions, Puan often discusses issues related to young genararation. In every international forum, the issue of young people is always raised by Puan.

For example, when the 144th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was held in Bali at the beginning of last year. At that time, as the host of the general session of the international parliamentary forum, Puan facilitated the voices of the younger generation who wanted the world to be better through real movements to overcome climate change.

At that moment, Puan promoted the Youthtopia movement which aims to empower young people to become agents of change. He invited the leader of Youthtopia, Melati Wijsen to speak in front of the delegates of IPU countries.

In front of the IPU forum, Puan praised Melati from Indonesia as the initiator of Bye Bye Plastic Bags, an organization that gathers youths from all over the world to fight to stop the use of plastic bags.

According to Alvin, Puan's support can be a motivation for the younger generation who have many challenges amidst the onslaught of globalization.

"In society, young people are often faced with unique challenges and difficulties, especially for those with disabilities," he said.

Alvin said that empowering young people with inclusion of disability is a progressive step and encourages equality of individual rights. Therefore, Puan's steps are considered very good.

"With a focus on empowering young people, Puan Maharani shows an in-depth understanding of the importance of paying attention to population segments that are often neglected or underrepresented," said Alvin.

"This shows that political leaders must involve all circles of society in political decisions and policy making," added Lecturer at the Faculty of Communications, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN).

Furthermore, Alvin assessed that Puan had also tried to create an inclusive environment for people with disabilities in the world of politics. This can be seen from the efforts of the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture to ensure that the needs and aspirations of young people, including those who have disabilities, are well heard and represented.

The empowerment of young people with inclusion of disabilities also has broader implications in the political field. In this process, it is hoped that more diverse, talented, and competent young leaders will emerge, including those with disabilities, "explained Alvin.

"This will create a better representation in political decision making, resulting in more inclusive policies and taking sides with the interests of all citizens," he continued.

Despite supporting the progress of the digital era, Puan always reminds the younger generation not to forget noble and cultural values. He also often conveyed the importance of education and supporting facilities for young people who are the next generation of the nation.

This is often conveyed by Puan, including when she attended the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the implementation of consortium cooperation between 18 universities in Indonesia and Pukyong National University (PKNU), South Korea, which was held at the Semarang State University (UNNES) campus, Semarang, on Thursday (22/6).

By discussing and making young people the center of this nation, both the government and the DPR can jointly prepare mechanisms that can provide opportunities for young people. And Puan's concern on the opportunity to get education for children is very important, "said Alvin.

In a number of meetings with other state leaders, Puan always brought the issue of empowering the younger generation. Both for the younger generation of the Indonesian nation, as well as the encouragement of cooperation to improve the relationship between countries of the younger generation.

Steps like what Puan Maharani did must be supported by follow-up from the Government. Because parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in relations or relations with other countries," explained Alvin.

The graduate of the UK's Master University of Leicester said that focusing on the younger generation will make this nation avoid the phenomenon of geronocracy. As for the geronocracy context, Alvin said, emphasizing how political decisions are often influenced by views and values that develop from the long experience of parents.

"This can lead to the risk of a lack of updates and suitability with the social development, technology, and aspirations of the younger generation," said the author of the book Political Communications in the Digital Age: from Big Data, Influencer Relations & Power of Celebrities, to Laughter Politics.

Alvin also praised Puan's efforts to always socialize the application of Pancasila values for young people so that the next generation does not lose their identity as the Indonesian nation even though the flow of information in the era of technological advances is increasingly massive.

"Talking about education, not only talking about academic abilities, but self-carrying according to the spirit of Pancasila. By diving and absorbing Pancasila, the nation's successors will be able to fortify themselves against inappropriate behavior," said Alvin.

Puan Maharani's way of always reminding the younger generation is considered to be an anticipatory step towards the bad things of the digitalization era. Alvin reminded that 2024 and beyond years will be the time when the younger generation is very dependent on digitalization so that there must be a preventive mechanism for its negative impact.

"So what Puan wants to convey is that even though digital is important, morals and etiquette should not be ruled out," said the young teacher.

Alvin also highlighted how Puan has always been vocal about issues of empowering young people, including when she encouraged the Government to open opportunities for jobs by bridging SMK graduates with industry players. Alvin also assessed that Puan's move to oversee cases of sexual violence in the educational environment was a form of supervision of the Government and law enforcement.

"Puan is well aware that the future of this country is on the shoulders of the younger generation, so Puan's support for empowering young people is not kidding. This should be followed by other officials, and other state figures," said Puan.

Even Puan and other DPR members must be examples ranging from behavior to being willing to serve, not hesitate to mingle with the younger generation, to anti-flexing. In order to be an example for the nation's successors," he added.

Previously, Puan emphasized the importance of promoting noble cultural values in the development of science and technology (Iptek). This is considered very important in order to protect the younger generation from the negative influence of the digitalization era.

"We want science and technology, civilization will further glorify human values and preserve the noble environment and culture," said Puan during the FGD between PKNU and a number of representatives of Indonesian universities at the UNNES Campus, Semarang, Thursday (22/6).