Reaffirming Pancasila: Susanto Urges Youth to Safeguard Indonesia's Future
Bandung - The commemoration of Pancasila’s Birth Day on June 1st presents an opportunity to reaffirm the role of the youth in safeguarding the nation’s direction. Bandung City DPRD member from the PKS faction, Susanto Triyogo Adiputro, stated that Pancasila must remain a moral compass guiding Indonesia through contemporary challenges.
Susanto noted that amidst rapid globalization, technological revolution, and social change, Pancasila’s values remain relevant as the foundation for building a progressive and civilised nation.
‘Pancasila is not merely a historical legacy confined to textbooks. It is a moral compass ensuring progress does not lose sight of humanity, unity, and social justice,’ Susanto said during his reflection on Pancasila’s Birth Day on Monday, 1 June 2026.
He reminded that Indonesia is currently enjoying a demographic bonus, with the majority of the population in the productive age group. This presents a significant opportunity to accelerate national development towards the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.
However, he cautioned that the demographic bonus does not automatically guarantee progress without a highly skilled workforce and strong national character.
‘History shows many nations failed to leverage the demographic bonus due to misguided development and leadership crises. Therefore, the youth must have a solid value foundation,’ he said.
Susanto highlighted that today’s challenges for the youth differ significantly from those faced by the nation’s founders. While past threats were physical occupation, current challenges include identity crises, social polarisation, disinformation, instant culture, and weakening communal spirit.
He noted that digital spaces, meant to strengthen unity, often become arenas of conflict that drain national energy. Thus, the youth need to revisit and understand Pancasila as a civilisational guide.
Each of Pancasila’s five principles, he explained, holds relevance for current national needs: public morality, human dignity, unity in diversity, civilised democracy, and social justice for all Indonesians.
Susanto also stressed the importance of the approaching 100th anniversary of the Youth Pledge in 2028 and Golden Indonesia 2045. The unity spirit from 1928 must be adapted to the present, including digital spaces.
‘Social media is not just a space for expression but also a national space. What we upload, comment on, and share influences the quality of national unity,’ he said.
To achieve Golden Indonesia 2045, Susanto emphasised the youth must build four key assets: intellect, integrity, social capacity, and leadership. With these, young people can actively address national issues such as corruption, economic inequality, political polarisation, digital disinformation, and climate crises.
‘Pancasila has provided direction, and the Youth Pledge has set an example. Now is the time for the youth to take their historical role in ensuring Indonesia becomes a progressive, dignified, and just nation,’ Susanto said.
He hopes the Pancasila Birth Day commemoration is not just an annual ceremony but a moment to strengthen collective awareness that Indonesia’s future depends on the quality of its generations.