Golden Indonesia 2045 No Pipe Dream

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

The red-and-white flag is raised at a ceremony to commemorate the 75th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia in Poetoek Suko, Trawas district, Mojokerto regency, East Java, Monday (17/8/2020). The ceremony was simple and was carried out under strict health protocols. To raise the sense of nationalism, the local government installed hundreds of red-and-white flags around Poetoek Suko where the ceremony took place.

Indonesian youths believe that Golden Indonesia in 2045 is no pipe dream. In order to achieve it, all aspects of life must be freed from corruption and the law must be enforced fairly.

JAKARTA, KOMAPS— Despite the country’s various shortfalls in its 75th anniversary on Monday (17/8/2020), Indonesian youths still believe that the country will have a glorious future. In 25 years, Indonesia will celebrate its centenary.

Today’s youths, candidates for future leaders, have their dreams for a Golden Indonesia, namely an advanced, just and prosperous country that respects human rights and protects its environmental legacies. “Indonesia can rise from a developing country to becoming an advanced one,” Papua’s Jayapura Science and Technology University study Muhammad Zulham Temongmere said.

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Indonesia’s emergence as an advanced country in 25 years is the endeavor of Zulham and scores of other youths from all across Indonesia.

Bina Nusantara University industrial engineering student Dimas Syafrilyandi Cahya, 19, also pledges to advance Indonesia when the country celebrates its centenary. He said he believed Indonesia will be able to develop various globally competitive industries with its natural wealth. “Therefore, for the country’s centenary, Indonesians will be more prosperous,” Dimas said.

ISTANA KEPRESIDENAN/AGUS SUPARTO

President Joko Widodo, wearing traditional South Central Timor clothing and a mask, sits on the stage of honor while leading the commemoration ceremony of the Seconds of the Proclamation of Independence at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/8/2020). The ceremony was held under health protocols, with a very limited number of attendants and guests.

Indonesian youths also project that their country will be more civilized and respectful toward human rights and diversity among its citizens. Latifa Rahmanita, 18, who recently graduated from SMAN 112 Jakarta state high school, said she believed the slogan of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) would remain a guiding hand for Indonesians.

“It is not Indonesia if it’s not diverse. Do not ever be racist as Indonesia’s uniqueness lies in its diversity of religions, ethnicities and cultures,” Trisakti University study Muhammad Ronaldo said in Jakarta.

Public access to good healthcare and education facilities is equitable and law is enforced indiscriminately.

SMKN 12 Jakarta state vocational school student Helen Ravelia, 15, said that she dreamt that Indonesia would have a leader with high integrity in 2045. Public access to good healthcare and education facilities is equitable and law is enforced indiscriminately. “The law must be freed from political interests,” Helen said.

She said that a discriminatory law led to rampant corruption and became a hurdle in Indonesia’s path towards becoming an advanced nation.

Similar optimism can be found among the students of SMPN 121 Jakarta state middle school, namely Fitria Nur Iskandar, 15; Doro Risky Indrayaka, 15; and Camelia Ripahma, 15. They said that they believed Indonesia could compete with other nations so long as it eradicated corruption. “[Indonesia] must resolve corruption and poverty,” Fitria said.

Road map

Scholar Yudi Latif said the dream of Golden Indonesia 2045 would be inevitable so long as there was a clear vision and a national development road map oriented in the nation’s potentials. The road map should not merely follow popular trends or other countries’ development. This is because each country’s progress is pushed by different potentials and energies.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Officers honor the red-and-white flag as the proclamation and flag-hoisting ceremony to commemorate Indonesia\'s 75th Independence Day takes place from across the courtyard of Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (17/8/2020). The ceremony was held in a limited and different way due to the Covid-19 pandemic. By following Covid-19 prevention health protocols, the number of ceremony officers and invited guests was limited. The flag-hoisting group only consisted of three people and the ceremonial troop from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) numbered 20 people. People who wanted to participate in these activities could follow it virtually.

“We have extraordinary natural wealth and abundant natural resources. If we are grateful for this, shown by cultivating them properly, Indonesia will be able to develop its competitiveness on the global stage," Yudi said.

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Separately, online marketplace Bukalapak founder Achmad Zaky said he hoped Indonesian youths could focus on their studies and self-development in order to compete with other nations. “If Indonesia wishes to advance, our youths must work harder and be more disciplined in creating products and services based on their knowledge for the benefit of global citizens,” he said.

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Road users stop to pay their respects during the commemoration of the seconds of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia on Jalan Margonda Raya, Depok, West Java, Monday (17/8/2020). The government through State Secretary Pratikno encouraged the public to stop all activities for 3 minutes on 17 August at 10:17 a.m.

Online marketplace Tokopedia founder and CEO William Tanuwijaya said he believed the Covid-19 pandemic during Indonesia’s 75th anniversary would be a blessing in disguise that would accelerate digital technology adoption among the people. William said that he believed technology would bring advancements to Indonesia for its centenary.(SPW/SHR/DAN/FAI/REK/SYA/FLO/FRN)