Millenial, A Seed for the Future

–Indonesia Millenial Summit 2019

(idntimes.com)

The event was held at Jan 19, 2019 in Kempinski Grand Ballroom, Jakarta. With a vision “Shaping Indonesia’s Future”, the event’s purpose is becoming a space to discuss some hot and interesting issues that are spread in Indonesian youth society–or we call it as ‘millenials’–by gathering all leaders around Indonesia. From academics, athletes, government officials, business leaders, NGO leaders, social entrepreneurs, activists, artists, religious leaders, until scientists. IDN Times, as a media that are loved by millenials and Z generation, is the event’s organizer. The event had three stages (Nusantara Stage, Garuda Stage, and Bhinneka Stage) with interesting sessions in every hour, and you could pick one that interested you very much.

And, I am excited to announce that I was getting this rare chance to join this event and hear some messages from the speakers.

Opening Ceremony

(l-r) William Utomo, Winston Utomo, Jusuf Kalla, Uni Lubis (idntimes.com)

The event actually starts at 8 AM, but I arrived there at 7.30 AM. And at the same time, the building was already packed with the participants all over Indonesia. The building was even more packed like a sea of humans at 9 AM – 30 minutes before the opening ceremony. Especially when you were in Bhinneka Stage, where most participants stood instead of sat down. Well, make sense.

The ceremony was opened by Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla with his expressed greetings and gong, together with Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara, Founder and CEO of IDN Times Winston-William Utomo, and Editor in Chief of IDN Times Uni Lubis. Before the ceremony, Jusuf Kalla and Rudiantara’s presence are welcomed by participants and speakers in the building. Followed by singing national anthem “Indonesia Raya” and playing a short video. After that, Winston was the first person to do opening speech, then William did a presentation that discussed Indonesian millenials in every perspective. He also presented a book with title Indonesia Millenial Report–a full report that had been presented by William–for Jusuf Kalla.

For full report, you can check www.idntimes.com/indonesiamillenialreport2019.

The Future of Media

Anindya Bakrie (idntimes.com)

This is the first session I joined in Bhinneka Stage, starting from 1 PM until 2 PM, with the speakers are Minister of Communication & Informatics Rudiantara, CEO of PT Visi Media Asia (VIVA) Anindya Bakrie, and Founder and CEO of IDN Times Winston Utomo. Right before the session started, a short video was played.

In this session, the speakers talked about how media nowadays are enjoyed by millenials, which is social media–such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LINE, etc.–as part of their life rather than conventional media such as newspaper, magazine, tabloid, etc.. Also, how millenials love searching news/information from their social media on mobile, which was shared by Winston.

The speakers also talked about hoax that are disturbed on most Indonesians nowadays. Anindya told the participants how hoax potentially creates conflict anytime and anywhere. “Hoax is not a simple thing. We are absolutely imperfect and still learning here.” He also added that media can be coming from every corner, even hoaxes are coming from somewhere beyond expectation. According to him, to reduce this situation, the system must be upgraded.

On the other side, Rudiantara shared his thought how to differentiate which one is hoax or real. First, hoax news always bringing a specific group name. Second, do not carelessly spread hoax news to groups or friends since this action can suck up your (internet) quota. “So, love your quota,” said him with a smirk.

From Critical Commentaries to Concrete Solutions

(l-r) Najwa Shihab, Ignasius Jonan, Moeldoko (idntimes.com)

This is the second session I joined which was held in the same stage–and the most favourite session I had ever joined through the event by far. Starting from 3 PM until 4 PM, this session invites Chief of Staff of Presidency Moeldoko, Minister of Energy & Mineral Resource Ignasius Jonan, and Journalist & Founder of Narasi TV Najwa Shihab–or should I say The Journalist Empress. And same as the first session I joined, a short video was played before starting this session.

In this session, Moeldoko shared about his comment of millenials being pessimist on law enforcement in this 4 years performance. Followed by Jonan who shared about President of Indonesia who wanted to recruit him as a minister and a short ‘Tale of Freeport’–which is now on Indonesia’s hands.

The session ended by Najwa Shihab who shared about hoaxes in Indonesia. She stated that millenials and Z-generation are the generations who are bearing hoaxes in social media the most than the old generations. According to her, news/information are spreading quickly and massively, which we cannot avoid it nowadays and becoming an obstacle for millenials and Z-generation.

“Speed is normal. Youths must know which ones (news/information) are important, promises, rhetoric, and which one is having a history record to fulfil his promises,” explained her.

She also gave a message to participants from her little notebook called ‘Catatan Najwa’–which is her true identity. And here is the message.

Leaders can outline plans

But it can be only composed by all of us in reality

Names that are known these days

Will only last one two more decades

Youths are the owners of the future

Sad if they are taking part on conflict

Actively spread the hate speeches

Easily get carried away by false information

Dissolve in gimcrack political propagandas

Indonesia is a diversity nation that should be mutually reinforcing

Take care with all abilities that can be mobilized

Do not just be a soldier for the old generation

Because opportunities belongs to youths

Make your own army while you can

Do not be dazzled by the idols who are busy fighting over power

Be a tranquil for the anxious people

Be a determinant when all roads appear deadlocked

Smart City for a Better Quality Life

Ridwan Kamil (idntimes.com)

This is the last session I joined for the event–which was held in the same stage. Starting from 5 PM until 6 PM, this session invites Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil (friendly called ‘Emil’), Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan, Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini, and Governor of South Sulawesi Nurdin Abdullah. Unfortunately, due to official duty, only Emil that could attend this session. And, same as the session I joined before, a short video was played before this session started.

Emil was actually busy with his duty in Garut, West Java, with President of Indonesia, yet he came to this event and greeted the participants. To him, this event is very important and special. In this session, Emil shared his thoughts about being positive and going down to prove his real duty, since millenials will be the next generation of nation’s leaders in the future. He also shared his achievements in West Java Province, like eFishery which lets you to give fish their food just by a single touch from your mobile. And, his advertisement ‘Ajudan Gubernur’ that invites youths all over Indonesia to join Emil while on duty. One of the requirement is having more than 1,000 followers on Instagram–which is sad for me because I only have less than 1,000 followers.

Bonus!

(idntimes.com)

There were also some interactive backdrops that let participants to stamp a red round sticker onto the provided place. One of them is ‘Who will win the 2019 Indonesia presidential election?’ backdrop that was placed in front of Bhinneka Stage. For me, this backdrop is interesting since this year is the election year, where Indonesian legal citizens must use their rights to give a vote for their ‘chosen one’ in April 17, 2019. There are two pairs that will battle this year. The first pair is Joko Widodo & Ma’Aruf Amin (number 01), while the second pair is Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno (number 02).

Aside of that, for your information, most participants chose pair number 01 than number 02, which JK said that this generation (millenials) are likely more stable. He also added that this method is not a campaign, yet survey result.

Overall, that is my experience at Indonesia Millenial Summit 2019. Cannot describe it one by one, but hopefully I can share some beautiful messages from the leaders above.

For photos,all credits are belongs to IDN Times, since I did not take a lot photo.

(idntimes.com)

(idntimes.com)

-Shane Tommo

January 21, 2019; 08.00 AM (West Indonesia Time)