Bandung City Council Urges KNPI to Become Driver of Development and Youth Empowerment

Bandung City Council (DPRD) leadership, Toni Wijaya, stressed the strategic importance of youth in regional development. He made the remarks whilst attending the Inauguration, Youth Seminar, and Orientation for the Batununggal District Board of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (PK KNPI) for the 2026–2029 period at the DPRD Bandung City Auditorium on Tuesday (2/6/2026). The event was also attended by several members of the Bandung City DPRD, including Agus Andi Setyawan, Bagja Jaya Wibawa, Muhamad Syahlevi Erwin Apandi, Andri Gunawan, and Agung Firmansyah. Also present were the Chairman of the Bandung City KNPI Regional Board, Bena Aji Satria, and Batununggal Sub-district Head, Wahyu Rinjaningsih. In his speech, Toni congratulated the newly inaugurated board members. He stressed that the mandate of a youth organisation is not merely a formal position, but a space for service to deliver tangible contributions to society. ‘This inauguration must be interpreted as the beginning of service. Youth are required to be drivers of change, not merely spectators of social dynamics,’ he said. As a member of the Bandung City DPRD leadership, Toni affirmed the legislative body’s support for strengthening the capacity of the younger generation as vital assets for regional development. He assessed that Batununggal Sub-district possesses significant potential, both in terms of its economy and the growing creativity of its youth. According to him, various local issues such as waste management, environmental order, strengthening the community economy, and the development of creative MSMEs require the active involvement of the younger generation. In this context, the Indonesian National Youth Committee is considered to hold a strategic position as a unifying platform for youth organisations. Toni also encouraged KNPI Batununggal to build three main orientations. First, to strengthen collaboration across elements of society and make KNPI a big home for youth. Second, to deliver work programmes that are independent, measurable, and have a direct impact on the community. Third, to act as a critical yet solution-oriented partner for the government and the DPRD. ‘The DPRD opens the widest possible space for youth aspirations and ideas. However, criticism must be accompanied by solutions in order to provide real benefits for development,’ he said. He added that synergy between youth, government, and the community is key to accelerating participatory-based development at the local level. KNPI is expected to become a driving force that is not only adaptive to change, but also capable of creating social innovation within the Batununggal community. With this spirit, the Bandung City DPRD hopes the new KNPI board can carry out its strategic role consistently and sustainably for the advancement of the younger generation and the city’s development.