Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – “A thousand old people can dream, one young person can change the world,” said Bung Karno. An expression that is still relevant today as Indonesia prepares to welcome the second wave of digital transformation with high expectations of the great potential of the nation’s golden generation as its locomotive.
Based on this spirit, the Malang City Government (Pemkot) through the Youth, Sports and Tourism Service (Disporapar) held the 2021 Malang City Youth Festival at the Kartini Imperial Ballroom Building, Malang City, Wednesday (17/11/2021).
The Mayor of Malang, Drs. H. Sutiaji, when opening the event, expressed his hope that this activity would be a real contribution and not just thoughts. But real action formed through a shared commitment for the progress of Indonesia.
Mayor Sutiaji said that life in this world is istighfar (an act of asking for forgiveness or begging forgiveness from Allah carried out by Muslims, RED), like a competition. "Of course there are winners, there are losers, there are those who have achievements and there are those who have not achieved," he explained.
However, he said, God has equipped all people to become victorious people. Where, victorious people are people who have idealism, trust, optimism, dreams, ideals, and hopes that never end. "I remind the youth to explore every potential they have. So that the hidden potential they have can emerge. Never say no, achieve the hopes and ideals of all of you, "said Mayor Sutiaji motivating.
In the current era of the industrial revolution 4.0, Sutiaji also advised to be smarter in filtering incoming culture. Including information that is incredibly transparent. Only young people who have idealism and a spirit of nationalism will not be torn apart by propaganda that wants to divide the nation's children.
According to Mayor Sutiaji, Malang City is an extraordinary city, because it is a miniature of the archipelago and the world. The reason is, students in Malang City come from all over Indonesia, there are even 132 countries that send their students to study here. "This is the strength and potential that we must develop, not many regions are given opportunities like Malang City. It remains how we are able to collaborate several strengths in other regions to make Indonesia more advanced," he said.
Demographic bonus, he continued, where the population will be dominated by productive age which can be the strength of the Indonesian nation to optimize its potential. "We hope that young people must be winners for themselves, their environment and all for the future of Indonesia," he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Disporapar, Dr. Ida Ayu Made Wahyuni, SH., M.Si said that the purpose of this event was to appreciate the creativity of youth, regional organizations, and youth organizations.
This festival was held as a series of commemorations of Youth Pledge Day 2021, including the Performance Festival from representatives of regional organizations, a culinary competition typical of Malang between youth organizations, and a Tiktok competition with the theme of Youth Pledge for the general public. "The various creations of Indonesian culture that are presented seem to represent the diversity of characters that continue to be maintained harmoniously in Arema," he said.
This event was held in a hybrid manner by implementing health protocols and was attended by 300 people from various youth elements aged 16-30 years. During the event, a number of aids for youth organizations in Malang City were symbolically handed over and the inauguration of the management of Purna Prakarya Muda Indonesia (PPMI) Malang City was also symbolically handed over. (dio/ndu/ram)
