Yogyakarta, October 9th 2021─The Department of Public Policy Management (DMKP) Fisipol UGM finished the International Conference of Public Action. The event invited representatives from the ministries, ASEAN, academicians, and young activists to analyze social issues through a multidimensional perspective. The first session was attended by Sandiaga Uno from The Republic of Indonesia’s Minister of Travel and Creative Economy; Leroy Samy Uguy from the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration; Faizal Chery Sidarta from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Shamsul Haque as the Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, National University Singapore.
Sandiaga talked about the importance of cross-institutional collaboration to construct a policy that ensures the welfare and security of the public. This can be done through the Integrated Village Economic Transformation project which was talked about by Leroy Samy Uguy. The focus of this policy and program is to change the community and economy in the family, village, cross-village, regional, provincial, and national level.
Faizal Chery Sidarta said that ASEAN also contributed to creating stable peace and economic development at the regional level. However, there are several issues and factors that play a role such as the rise of China and its relation with the US. Shamsul Haque added that environmental disorder is also important in ASEAN. According to him, there are several challenges in ASEAN countries environmental policies such as the problem of climate change, land and forest, carbon emission, as well as increasing energy use because of the rise of population, industrialisation, economic development, consumerism, and economic inequality.
The talk about ASEAN was continued in the second session by Ade Padmo Sarwono as the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN. Ade said that ASEAN develops an external relationship with the UN, states, and other regional organizations to analyze social issues. As a Permanent Representative, Ade said that the decisions made by leaders and ministries in ASEAN are always monitored.
There is also Tantowi Yahya as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to New Zealand who spoke about the Covid-19 management in New Zealand. According to him, New Zealand also faces challenges, like the decrease of travel, political issues by the opposition group, and the late arrival of vaccines. However, those issues can be managed through preparation, consistency, good communication , public participation, and a mature democracy.
“Even if there is an opposition, everyone still unites towards a consensus to achieve public welfare during the crisis,” said Tantowi.
Not only that, Melati Wijsen as the founder of Youthopia, said that youth empowerment is also important to create a movement and change in social issues. Youths have energy, motivation, and solutions to connect several actors and institutions towards the change that we all need.