Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Stresses Character Building for Youth Based on Cultural Values
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto has stressed the importance of strengthening the character of the younger generation through the cultivation of cultural, moral, and national values as a foundation for preparing Indonesia’s future leaders. According to him, a nation’s progress is determined not only by the mastery of science but also by strong character.
“Great civilisations are supported by knowledge and sustained by character. Therefore, our task today is to focus on building character and reviving the noble values inherited from our predecessors,” Bima said during the inauguration of the Ikatan Sarjana Melayu Indonesia (ISMI) management board at Mangkuluhur ARTOTEL Suites, Jakarta, on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
Bima explained that the challenge of character formation is currently growing alongside the development of social media, which enables the rapid spread of information without always being accompanied by a verification process. For this reason, the younger generation needs to be equipped with critical thinking skills, ethics, and wisdom so they are able to filter information and remain committed to the truth.
He assessed that efforts to prepare the nation’s next generation cannot rely solely on formal education and competency enhancement. According to him, character and integrity must go hand in hand with intelligence to produce quality and responsible leaders.
On that occasion, Bima also invited the younger generation to possess a global outlook without abandoning their cultural roots and national identity. “The Malay identity is cosmopolitan. Setting foot on Malay soil, standing on the Nusantara, and gazing at the world. That is what our founding fathers were like. They departed from local culture, thought within a national framework, and contributed at a global level,” he said.
Furthermore, Bima stated that the Malay intellectual tradition has produced many figures who have made important contributions to the nation, such as Raja Ali Haji and Buya Hamka. According to him, the thoughts and exemplary conduct of these figures remain relevant in building the character of the younger generation amidst the various challenges of the times.
Therefore, he hopes that ISMI can become an active space for reviving cultural, ethical, and national values through various educational activities and thought development. These efforts are considered important to prepare the younger generation to answer future challenges while seizing the opportunities of the demographic bonus towards the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.