Indonesia’s Joko Widodo criticised for naming popstar Maudy Ayunda to G20 role to woo youth population
- Maudy Ayunda’s appointment is being criticised as the government’s way to woo young Indonesians, whose jobless rate is double the average of 6.5 per cent
- November’s G20 Summit in Bali comes against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with some members threatening boycotts if Moscow attends
Indonesia’s decision to name a pop star as its Group of 20 spokesperson is the latest move in what some analysts say is a series of vanity appointments the government is making as part of a bid to connect with a young population.
Ayunda Faza Maudya – a 27-year-old singer and actress better known as Maudy Ayunda – was named as spokesperson for the country’s G20 presidency. Ayunda takes on the role as Indonesia faces the delicate balance of hosting several leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian delegates are invited to a G20 meeting in Washington this week, despite other nations threatening boycotts.
The appointment is the latest in what critics say is a string of celebrities, start-up founders and children of tycoons named to political roles as President Joko Widodo’s administration attempts to woo a young population facing high unemployment. More than half the country’s 273 million people are younger than 35 years old and the unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 30 was hovering at 14 per cent last year.
“These symbolic appointments are part of efforts to temper criticism from the youth on critical issues, like jobs and public services,” said Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political researcher at National Research and Innovation Agency. “The government’s outreach leans toward the privileged urban youths – the kind of millennials who fit the idea they want to promote – while leaving out the majority who are middle- to lower-income and live in rural areas.”
Young Indonesians are more likely to be jobless at double the national rate of 6.5 per cent. Despite state-run employment training programmes and scholarships for higher education, about one in five of them are neither working nor studying, figures that bode poorly for Indonesia’s aim to become a higher-income economy by 2045.
Ayunda, who lacks any diplomatic or economic experience, took on the role on March 31. At her first briefing, she appeared to ignore questions about Putin’s attendance. Organisers told journalists to ask about her personality instead.
As part of a team of spokespeople, her role is to report the G20 meeting results that are relevant to Indonesia while sensitive issues would be handled by other representatives, Ayunda said in response to Bloomberg questions.
