AHY Urges Jakarta to Create More Creative Spaces for Youth

Jakarta – The General Chair of the Democratic Party’s Central Executive Board, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), is urging the creation of more creative spaces for the youth in Jakarta. He says these spaces are part of inclusive urban development. AHY notes that a city is modern not only by physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges. More than that, he says, the availability of spaces for young people to grow, to innovate, and to express themselves, must also be provided. “We hope that in the future there will be creative hubs that give generous space for Indonesia’s youth, especially in Jakarta, to continue to create and express their works. This is a hallmark of a modern and advanced city,” he said during a dialogue with Generation Z in Cipayung, East Jakarta, on Thursday, 5 March 2026. The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development said that the aspirations of young people should be an important part of urban development planning. In this way, AHY said, policies should not only make youth objects but also subjects of development. According to AHY, Generation Z today has courage and a high critical capacity in voicing their aspirations. This is important for policymakers, including the government responsible for infrastructure development. “Going forward, our young people are a generation that is critical and brave in voicing aspirations. That is important for decision-makers, including us who have been entrusted with guarding infrastructure development,” AHY said. He added that as cities become more modern, they must maintain local identity. AHY said Jakarta can become a global city without losing the character and culture that define it. “The city can be global, but it must still have strong roots in local characteristics and uniqueness. So global, but still strong in Indonesia’s identity as well as our region’s,” he said.