As the 2024 elections loom, political aspirations and agendas flood the public sphere, echoing the promises of presidential and vice-presidential hopefuls. The trajectory of Indonesia for the next five years hinges significantly on the next elected leadership.
In this opportune moment, UGM students actively contribute recommendations on critical programs and issues for the presidential and vice-presidential contenders.
Undergraduates from the Public Policy and Management program at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences have curated pivotal issues and policy proposals encapsulated in the book “Youth Voices: Economic Ideas for the Future President,” unveiled on Thursday (Dec. 21).
“We, representing the Public Policy and Management Department, take pride in our undergraduate students who harbor profound concerns and offer thoughtful ideas,” expressed department head Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo.
“We hope this contribution resonates, receives due attention, and becomes part of the agenda for all three pairs of presidential candidates. This serves as a platform for us to discuss the future trajectory of our nation.”
Campaign teams and supporters of the three presidential candidates actively participated in the discussion forum and book launch. Professor Kumorotomo emphasizes the importance of the elected president considering ideas from diverse segments of society, with a particular nod to the student community.
The book encapsulates six principal themes: economic strides amid political dynamics, taxes and social disparity, investment and infrastructure policies, social protection during political transitions, the relevance of universal public income in Indonesia, and fostering public-private partnerships.
These topics aim to underpin Indonesia’s development, especially in the impending five-year span. Notably, the issue of inequality takes center stage.
Disparities stemming from uneven infrastructure, a shortage of MSME industries, and a low Human Development Index (HDI) contribute significantly to this imbalance. Unfortunately, tax funds have yet to be channeled substantially into sectors directly impacting economic inequality.
“In addressing this issue of inequality, we believe it can be rationalized by addressing the contributing factors. Thus, we recommend allocating the budget for more evenly distributed development to lagging regions. Development often neglects this inequality, tending to be concentrated in economic hubs,” shared Yoga, a UGM Public Policy and Management student.
Responding to these concerns, the campaign teams for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates have each outlined their focus and solutions.
Fazlur Hassan, from the campaign team for Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar (AMIN), highlighted a program concentrated on labor absorption.
Noting a decrease in labor absorption by -76% despite a surge in investments since 2013, the AMIN Team is dedicated to formulating a program emphasizing equality, sustainability, sectoral and territorial approaches, and micro-level citizen issues.
Diverging from the AMIN Team’s approach, the campaign team for Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming, represented by Drajad H. Wibowo, unveiled a three-pronged strategy.
Identifying Indonesia’s prolonged entrapment in a middle-income quagmire, the Prabowo-Gibran Team’s propositions align with developing countries’ challenges.
The three focal points for attention are industrialization, downstream, and climate change mitigation, envisaged as sustainable sources of income for the nation.
Further, the campaign team for Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD presented its program design. Dr. Piter Abdullah Redjalam underscored the critical importance of the demographic bonus in Ganjar-Mahfud’s programs.
Failing to maximize this opportunity could lead to a demographic disaster, with poverty, inequality, and unemployment spiraling exponentially as the working-age population burgeons. Hence, various accelerations in economic growth are imperative.
The contributions of UGM Public Policy and Management students manifest as a tangible expression of youth engagement in the 2024 elections. As the largest demographic of voters, the youth’s active involvement is pivotal in shaping the nation’s destiny.
The aspiration is for more young voices to emerge, willing to articulate their ideas and contribute to realizing the vision of Indonesia Vision 2045.
Author: Tasya