More millennials learning politics

Indonesian interns learn to draft bylaws

JAKARTA: While millennials are generally seen as apolitical, there is a growing number of young people with an interest in politics who have prompted political parties to give them the opportunity to get engaged in the field.

The decades-old Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has tried to attract younger generations of budding politicians through an internship programme called Banteng Muda (Young Bull), referring to the party’s symbol.

The programme, which also aims to regenerate the party, is open to university graduates from various backgrounds.

Selected interns are assigned to assist members of the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) for a number of functions.

According to PDI-P faction chairman Gembong Warsono, the internship programme was also designed to introduce the younger generations to senior legislative members and to a variety of legislation to improve the quality of life in communities.

“Interns will be asked to visit communities to listen and gather residents’ aspirations. They will then deliver the people’s inquiries and suggestions to the legislature.

“Subsequently, both the interns and the senior legislative council members will collaborate in designing a draft bylaw that the party will introduce during DPRD meetings and hopefully get the draft bylaw passed and enacted immediately,” Gembong said.

In addition, Gembong said the interns would also be helping the legislative council allocate Jakarta’s regional budget (APBD).

“As the party with the most members in Jakarta’s DPRD, we must take great care in handling the APBD. However, the city’s

Interns and the senior legislative council members will collaborate in designing a draft bylaw that the party will introduce during DRPD meetings.

Gembong Warsono

budget is massive and, therefore, there will be occasions when legislative council members will trust the interns in designing an allocation plan by themselves.”

When asked what criteria the PDI-P is searching from candidates, Gembong said the party wasn’t limiting applicants based on specific university degree backgrounds.

“All university degree holders are welcome. The most important thing is that they have the desire to build a career in politics and are not shy about engaging with the public.”

Along with their application, interested interns are required to submit a minimum 2,000-word essay on why they want to participate in the programme and attach their resumes.

As of September, the PDI-P has received over 600 applications. Millennial involvement in politics is growing in other parties as well.

The Golkar Party, the political machine of former president Soeharto, is also anticipating the rise of young politicians, such as Dyah Roro Esti, 26, who was elected into the House of Representatives for the 2019-2024 term. — The Jakarta Post/ANN