Academic values Prabowo's openness as strengthening democratic climate
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Achmad Baidowi, a Government Science academic from the Darul Ulum Banyuanyar Institute (IDB), believes that President Prabowo Subianto’s openness to criticism and public input can strengthen the quality of democracy while supporting policy-making based on facts and data.
According to Baidowi, the President’s stated readiness to receive criticism and carefully examine various inputs demonstrates a commitment to listening to public aspirations and responding to evolving dynamics on the ground.
“President Prabowo Subianto’s readiness to accept criticism and examine it thoroughly deserves appreciation. This certainly has a positive impact on the democratic climate that we continue to maintain,” Baidowi said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.
He believes this commitment reflects the character of a leader born from the democratic process, possessing genuine concern for the various issues faced by the community.
He noted that the readiness to examine various inputs also highlights the importance of using data and facts in the government’s decision-making process.
“The readiness to examine matters closely shows that President Prabowo is a leader who cares about facts and data. This means that the readiness to review indicates an attitude of observing and analysing data to avoid errors in decision-making,” said the Head of the Organisational Division of the Association of Alumni Doctors of Government Science IPDN (IKADIP).
Baidowi cited public aspirations that have received government attention, such as criticism regarding the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. He noted that the government’s evaluative steps demonstrate a response to public feedback concerning the programme’s implementation.
“One of the public aspirations being followed up is the criticism regarding the governance of the MBG programme, where the President has not turned a blind eye to the poor governance within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN),” he said.
Furthermore, he highlighted the law enforcement processes against several parties that are proceeding without government intervention.
According to him, this serves as an indicator of a commitment to maintaining the independence of the legal process while responding to public demands regarding anti-corruption efforts and the strengthening of government governance.
“Similarly, the legal processes involving several cabinet members, which have proceeded without intervention, show that the President is committed to and cares about public demands in the law enforcement sector,” said Baidowi.
He expressed hope that the government’s openness to criticism and evaluation can be maintained to support the improvement of public policy and strengthen public trust in state institutions.