Minister Wihaji: Father's Role Crucial in Child Development
Minister of Population and Family Development/Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) Wihaji has reminded the public of the importance of a father’s role in every child’s life.
“People say a father earns a living for the family, but sometimes he forgets the family itself. That is why we want to remind everyone of the importance of a father figure, because it also influences a child’s behaviour,” he said in Yogyakarta on Friday.
He made the statement after meeting with the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, at the Kepatihan Complex in Yogyakarta, regarding plans to hold the peak celebration of National Family Day in Yogyakarta on 29 June 2026.
He stated that the theme for this year’s National Family Day commemoration is “Father Must Be Present”.
“If the father figure is absent, the child’s fighting spirit will be psychologically diminished,” he said.
However, if a child does not have a father, he noted that what the child needs is the presence of a father figure, and this does not necessarily have to be the biological father.
He said that through the 2026 National Family Day activities, it is hoped that DIY can become part of a pilot project in family development.
“We believe that the family is the smallest unit of society in our country. Therefore, if we want to improve this nation together, we can start with the most basic improvements, namely the family,” he said.
Governor of DIY Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X said all families need to build communication with the heart.
“We truly want to build better families. And what is meant by ‘heart’ is awareness. There must be a consciousness in the heart of every family member to keep communicating with one another. We cannot just talk about logic,” he said.
According to him, with the freedom society faces today and the advancement of technology, the space for family togetherness should not disappear.
Therefore, by relying on the heart in addition to logic, there should no longer be instances of families eating together but remaining silent because each member is busy with their own gadgets.
“If at home, when eating together, everyone is silent, everyone is playing with their mobile phones, that creates an uncomfortable space, and the family harmony is lost. That is why using the ‘heart’ is also important,” he said.