A New Party, Perhaps—But Our Ideas Are Sharp and Growing

By: Ahmad Rofiq, Chairman of the Gema Bangsa Party

Many assume that a new party must be immature. It’s understandable—most of the public is weary of pop-up parties that surface before elections, lacking clear ideas and serving merely as vehicles for political elites. But Gema Bangsa was not born of that spirit.

Yes, we are a new party—but not a movement that emerged overnight. Gema Bangsa was formed out of deep frustration with a political system that no longer listens. We didn’t come to follow trends—we came to nurture ideas and give voice to values that have long been sidelined.

What is our core idea? That power is not the goal, but a tool. That a party does not belong to the elite, but is a home for the people. That politics doesn’t have to be transactional, and that real change must begin with the system—not with appearances. These principles shape everything we do: from our decentralized organizational structure, to our honest and open cadre development, to our firm commitment to reject political dowries in any form.

We believe that what makes a party strong is not its age, but its direction and conviction. We are bold enough to build from the ground up, because we know that only a solid foundation can support a long struggle. And that foundation is built on values and ideas.

Our ideas are also evolving. They are not rigid or confined to paper. They move with the people, shaped by conversations with communities, and strengthened by grassroots experience. We don’t promise instant solutions—but we know where we’re headed.

So if anyone underestimates us because we’re still young, we’re grateful. It means we still have room to grow, to learn, and to keep listening.

We may be new—but we know what we want to change. And we know how to begin: with ideas.