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

The program, 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 program was also designed to introduce the younger generations to senior legislative members and to a variety of legislation to improve communities’ quality of life.

“The 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 told The Jakarta Post.

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 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 for from intern candidates, Gembong said the party was not 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 program 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.

Dyah, whose electoral district is Gresik and Lamongan, East Java, said she encountered a number of challenges when she had just started her candidacy.

“Some of the struggles I faced had a lot to do with the older members and also local residents who underestimated me for my age — 25 years old at the time of the candidacy — and my gender as a woman,” Dyah said early this month.

According to her, the key to counteracting the treatment she faced was to be vocal during parliamentary meetings, spend a dedicated amount of time in her electoral district, meeting people first hand to listen to their concerns while explaining how her role as a legislator could help fix community issues.

“Through my encounters with East Java residents, I realized that people just want to be heard and feel close to their representative. This helped in getting people to know me better beyond my age, gender and photo on the billboard,” Dyah said.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), meanwhile, recruited young people as expert staff members and personal assistants to the party’s House members.

An expert staff member and personal assistant to PKS legislator Mardani Ali Sera, Muhammad Dzaky Izzuddin, 24, said he did not particularly feel he was being underestimated by the older members of the party.

“Honestly, the working environment here is supportive, from during my time as an intern at the House until I was hired as a personal aide to Pak Mardani. In my opinion, the biggest challenge that I still face relates more to job technicalities,” Muhammad said.

He explained that he had struggled when his superior told him to write press releases on his boss’ behalf.

“For example, one time I was told to write a press release about the Workers Social Security Agency [BPJS Ketenagakerjaan], which I was unfamiliar with. Thankfully, my seniors on the expert team are always willing to double-check my drafts. As time went by, I found my rhythm and have gotten better at my job.” (bry)

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