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Youth have strong views, not apolitical: Survey
The study, conducted by independent local pollster KedaiKOPI, revealed that today’s youth, or those aged 19 to 38 – the demographic segment that helped propel President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to victory in April’s presidential election – are also those who staged the biggest student rallies in the Reform Era to protest government policies.
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Hundreds of students in Bali carry banners during a protest to voice their concerns about various issues, ranging from racism and forest fires to the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, on Sept. 24. They also protested the Criminal Code revision bill. JP/ Zul Trio Anggono (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)
With a recent wave of rallies involving scores of students, it may be time to ditch the stereotype that millennials and those of Generation Z are apolitical, a recent study has indicated.
The study, conducted by independent local pollster KedaiKOPI, revealed that today’s youth, or those aged 19 to 38 – the demographic segment that helped propel President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to victory in April’s presidential election – are also those who staged the biggest student rallies in the Reform Era to protest government policies.
KedaiKOPI executive director Kunto Adi Wibowo said the survey, titled “Demonstration and the public dimensions around it”, was conducted from Sept. 28 to 29 with 469 respondents across Indonesia to find out how the public perceived last week’s wave of nationwide demonstrations.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents strongly support the university student protests. However, 54.1 percent of respondents strongly disagree with following protests where school-age students participated.
The rallies started as a ripple on Sept. 19 when a group of university students staged a protest in front of the House of Representatives in Central Jakarta, voicing mosi tidak percaya (vote of no confidence) two days after the House passed the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law. The rallies escalated into a nationwide movement on Sept. 24 and 25.
In regard to the rally demands, 55.2 percent of respondents agree that the new KPK Law could potentially weaken the institution. A total of 53.9 percent say an additional article in the new law about the establishment of a KPK supervisory board would weaken the institution, with a further 22.6 percent saying the supervisory board would restrict the KPK’s authority.
