President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo introduced his new team of 14 expert staff on Thursday (21/11/2019) at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo introduced his new team of 14 expert staff on Thursday (21/11/2019) at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. They are expected not only to be a bridge with young people, including the santri (Muslim students) and those in diaspora but also provide breakthroughs and contemporary innovations to solve various national problems.
"These seven young people will be my discussion partners, daily, weekly, monthly, giving innovative fresh ideas, so that we can look for new ways, ways out of the box, jumping to pursue the progress of the country," said President Jokowi when introducing the seven young people.
Before being sworn in for the second time as president on 20 October 2019, Jokowi said several times he would appoint young people under the age of 30 as ministers.
Now, the young people under the age of 30 are his expert staff. They are Putri Indahsari Tanjung 23, and Adamas Belva Syah Devara, 29. Other young people who become special staff are Gracia Billy Mambasar, 31; Andi Taufan Garuda, 32; Aminudin Ma\'ruf, 33; and Ayu Kartika Dewi, 36. A person with a disability, Angki Yudistia, 32, who actively assists people with disabilities through Thisable Enterprise, also serves as expert staff.
When asked about their assignment, the President answered, "For their assignments, this is a joint works. Especially for mbak Angki, I added the task of spokesman in the social field."
Population composition
With the majority of Indonesia\'s population of productive age, Jokowi\'s move does not seem excessive. Based on National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) data, from a total of 226.9 million Indonesians this year, as many as 183.36 million or 68.7 percent are of productive age (15-64 years). If millennials are those born in 1980-2000, the number is 85.8 million or 32 percent of the total population. The number is equivalent to 46 percent of the population of productive age.
They can be senior-junior connections, as well as those who are technologically illiterate with those who are advanced in technology.
This condition, according to Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, has resulted in the palace hiring millennials with forward thinking. They can be senior-junior connections, as well as those who are technologically illiterate with those who are advanced in technology.
However, House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II member Arif Wibowo questioned the extent to which the millennials were able to support the President\'s task. The DPR will invite State Secretary Pratikno to ask for clarification regarding the main tasks and work of the special staff.
Separately, associate professor at the Master of Management Program at Mercu Buana University, Jakarta, Setyo Riyanto, said that so far the government has been running with the old system which is well established and comfortable. However, the system was unable to answer the challenges of the times and the future, let alone rapid changes due to technology.
Remember, they are still very young so it is easy to be in a temper. Don\'t just make them as decoration and branding, but really be optimized.
"Instead of cutting down many generations that will pose risks, including political risks, creative destruction is taken. So, establishment is hit with creative ways. This is what I see in President Jokowi’s intension to involve young people," said Setyo, quoting the concept of Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter. Now, the challenge is how to make the ideas of young children into programs that can be implemented well and effectively. "Remember, they are still very young so it is easy to be in a temper. Don\'t just make them as decoration and branding, but really be optimized," said Setyo. (NTA/INA/LAS)