March 27, 2025
Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's government is facing increasing pressure to overhaul its communication team and has changed the way the government and the public communicate after officials made a series of disdainful remarks.
The president has urged his cabinet twice in the past week to improve communication with the public, first in a speech at a plenary meeting on March 21 and then at a ministerial meeting with ministers on Monday dealing with food and agriculture.
At Monday's meeting, Prabowo called on his ministers and deputy ministers to ensure that the public can accurately understand the progress of the government, according to officials attending the meeting.
The president said many of the government’s breakthroughs and policies have not been effectively communicated to the public.
“The president demands improvement [public] communicate.
Prabowo's order was a criticism of public criticism and criticism of opposition to government officials when his administration faced criticism and criticism of opposing speeches, plus bad interactions with the public and opaque policymaking.
For example speedit has been publishing investigation reports to criticize the government.
speed On Saturday morning, the magazine received an anonymous package containing an anonymous package containing a beheaded, broken pig's head, and gave it to Francesca “cica” Cica Christy Rosana speed' Bocor Alus Politik podcast.
Also read: in hot water, in hot water, public communication in hot water
Hasan downplayed the incident and told reporters on March 20 that the target reporter should “cook” the pig's head. A presidential spokesman said he was seeking to spread the sense of horror through his statements.
Hassan was not the first official of the Prabowo government and his remarks aroused public anger.
Army Chief of Staff Maruli Simanjuntak faced similar protests after he criticized the Indonesian Army (TNI) law, and citizen groups criticized the act that could allow more officers to be appointed to civilian positions, a “overreaction”.
His father-in-law Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is in charge of the National Economic Commission and serves as cabinet minister for former President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, also received criticism last month's comments on the protest movement against the Indonesian Gelap (Dark Indonesia) last month.
When reporters were questioned about the February 19 protests, Luhut replied: “If anyone says Indonesia [is in] Darkness, darkness is inside you, not Indonesia. ”
A narrow gap
Even Prabowo faces public condemnation for what his critics call “Brash comments”, including when he suggests critics criticizing his policies (including his downstream dynamics) resemble “barking dogs.”
Some uses of the word “dog” in Indonesian are considered highly derogatory.
FX Ari Prastowo, a lecturer in political public relations at Padjajaran University, said a range of public relations Fiascos should prompt Prabowo to review its presidential exchange team and optimize the public relations offices of ministries and state agencies.
He said government communication failed to build relationships with the public, showing empathy for people’s concerns or creating space for dialogue.
“On the contrary, things are happening,” Ali said. “The government is expanding the gap with the people.”
Also read: “RIP Reform”: Democracy advocates a voice alarm for the return of the new order
Ari called on Prabowo to interact with the public to help people understand reality and encourage them to build a nation together.
Kunto Adi Wibowo, a political communications analyst at the poll group Kedaikopi, called on the government to change its view of public participation by treating the public as equals.
“It is necessary to start with empathy and admit that we are all on the same boat,” Quinto said. “No leaders can think they know everything, whether it’s an economic crisis or any other challenge.”
