GKR Hemas: Indonesia Does Not Lack Smart People, but It Needs Leaders with Strong Character

20 June 2026 oleh admin

dpd.go.id Jakarta – Vice Chairperson of the DPD RI, GKR Hemas, reminded that Indonesia does not lack a smart and high-achieving younger generation. Instead, the challenge facing the nation today lies in the effort to birth leaders of character, integrity, and those who hold steadfast to cultural values amidst the rapid currents of globalization and technological advancements.

According to the Senator from the Special Region of Yogyakarta, technological progress, artificial intelligence, and information openness have presented various new opportunities for the younger generation. However, behind this progress, there is a major challenge that must be faced: preserving the nation's identity and character so it is not eroded by increasingly strong global influences.

"One of the biggest challenges facing our nation today is not just an economic issue, nor is it just a technological issue, but a matter of identity," GKR Hemas stated during her opening speech at the 2026 National Leadership Camp at the Vocational Auditorium of Universitas Indonesia on Saturday (June 20, 2026).

Speaking before 750 participants consisting of 300 Rumah Kepemimpinan awardees and 450 youth delegates from various organizations and universities, GKR Hemas emphasized that true leadership is not born solely from academic intelligence or technological mastery. Leadership is shaped by the values, character, and worldview that form the basis for a person in making decisions and exercising the authority they hold.

"When we talk about leadership, we are essentially talking about the cultural values that form the foundation of a leader's actions," she explained.

GKR Hemas assessed that various problems occurring in national life, including the abuse of authority and the decline of integrity in the public sphere, show that educational progress and economic development do not necessarily go hand in hand with character strengthening. Therefore, national development must be accompanied by character building rooted in Indonesian cultural values. "We also need character building that is rooted in the nation's cultural values," GKR Hemas said.

She emphasized that Indonesia possesses a very strong cultural asset through the values of gotong royong (mutual cooperation), musyawarah (deliberation), tepa selira (empathy/tolerance), and respect for diversity. These values must become the foundation for building future leadership capable of answering the challenges of the times without losing the nation's identity.

"Indonesia does not lack smart people. Indonesia also does not lack people who possess good technical and academic abilities," said GKR Hemas.

According to her, what Indonesia needs right now is a generation capable of blending intelligence with integrity, ability with empathy, and courage with wisdom in carrying out the mandate of leadership.

"What we need is a generation capable of combining intelligence with integrity, ability with empathy, courage with wisdom, possessing character, and holding a love for their nation's history," GKR Hemas asserted.

Following the event, GKR Hemas expressed her hope that the participants of the 2026 National Leadership Camp would become a generation ready to compete globally without abandoning their national identity. According to her, mastering science and technology must move in tandem with an understanding of Indonesian culture and character.

"I have high hopes; they must not only have physical and mental strength, but crucially, they must not abandon the nation's culture. Our nation's own identity, the Indonesian identity, must be emphasized to these children of ours," GKR Hemas stated.

She added that the challenges faced by the younger generation in the future will become increasingly greater and more complex. Therefore, progress and competitiveness must be built upon a strong cultural foundation so that Indonesia has leaders capable of moving the nation forward without losing its identity.

"In facing global developments, young people, while being urged to continuously move forward keeping up with the times, must still hold firmly to their own culture; this becomes their strength as Indonesian human beings," GKR Hemas concluded.