Looking Forward

Diaz Hendropriyono is young, fresh, and full of optimism. His vision and thoughts focus on the importance of the role of young people for the progress of Indonesia. Novranto Huntua writes

Diaz hendropriyono is well known as a young politician who is innovative, creative, and always full of optimism in his views of the future of Indonesia. At only 39, Diaz has been appointed as the Chairman of the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) for the 2018 to 2024 period. “As part of the community and nation, I feel called to contribute my thoughts, struggles, and dedication to my beloved society and country,” Diaz explains to Indonesia Tatler.

Diaz, the third child of Indonesian military intelligence figure Former TNI General (Retired) A.M. Hendropriyono, is a young man who is diligent, has a love of learning, and a thirst for achievement. He shows by example how responsible he is to his family, the community, and the environment around him.

Diaz has a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Tech in the US and is also a doctoral candidate with a state administration major at the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy. He has also received a number of academic awards, such as Gamma Beta Phi (2007), Phi Kappa Phi (2007), Delta Mu Delta (2002), and Dean’s List (2002).

Diaz’s beginning in politics was due to his admiration for President Joko Widodo, with whom he has been familiar since his days as mayor of Solo. Not surprisingly, in July 2012, when Jokowi was running for the DKI Jakarta Governor election, Diaz became one of his supporting volunteers.

Likewise, during the campaign period before the presidential election in 2014, Diaz founded an organisation while serving as General Chairman of Jokowi Buddy (Kawan Jokowi), which supported and helped establish Jokowi as president of the Republic of Indonesia from 2014 to 2019. Currently, as the Chairman of PKPI, Diaz, together with his party members and sympathisers, has established and supported Jokowi as president. “Therefore, it is fit to say that my commitment, direction, and political vision are always in line with and support Jokowi,” Diaz says.

For this father of three, Jokowi is an exemplary national leader. The track record, actions, capabilities, and integrity that Jokowi has shown so far have been able to create unity and bring Indonesia to a path of prosperity and justice.

According to music-mad Diaz, Jokowi is a humble figure, who is young at heart and has emotional ties with the millennial youth who are spearheading the nation’s future. This is reflected in the focus of the government’s efforts to reduce the unemployment rate and successfully increase growth and increase employment opportunities. The president is also ever-active in gathering and motivating, sharing his experience and business tips with young people, as well as small and medium enterprises and start-ups in Indonesia.

The vision of Jokowi’s leadership is in line with the current trend, which rests on the idea of creative and productive thinking and puts forward the principles of work, work, work. Diaz says that the government’s productivity can already be seen in the wider community.

For example, infrastructure development does not only happen in big cities in Java, but also in the rural areas of Papua. Furthermore, the determination of a one-fuel price policy in Indonesia, a decrease in cement prices in Papua, the provision of the Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) and the Indonesia Healthy Card (KIS), ease in handling land certificates, and more. The overall steps of these strategic programmes are not only able to improve the welfare of Indonesia as a whole, but also to strengthen unity and avoid the threat of national disintegration.

Speaking on the role of youth in the context of the history of Indonesia, in Diaz’s perspective the younger generation has always been a driving force and a determinant of unity and progress of the nation. In 1908, the modern movement called Budi Utomo was pioneered by young people. Next, the 1928 Youth Pledge became a milestone in Indonesian unity, all of which culminated with the proclamation of Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945. There was also Indonesia’s reform movement in 1998.

“In the 2019 legislative and presidential elections, voters from the younger generation—which are estimated to be more than 50 per cent—will again play an important role as well as being the determinants of Indonesia’s progress in the future,” Diaz explains.

Therefore, Diaz hopes that the younger generation makes the right choices in voting for Indonesian leaders in the future. “Vote for leaders who are always in the same side with the people and who respect diversity, mutual respect, and tolerance, as well those able to unite the nation in the same ideals and dreams for the advancement of Indonesia,” Diaz says, closing the conversation.

Diaz hopes that the younger generation makes the right choices in voting for Indonesian leaders in the future.