Analyst: Cabinet Secretary Teddy's Role Not Easy Amid Ongoing Gossip

Public officials increasingly recording and sharing their daily work on social media are drawing public attention. One prominent example is Secretary of the Cabinet (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya’s 24-hour activity video posted on @teddy_hq.

In the video, Teddy showcases a packed schedule from morning preparations, out-of-town official trips, coordinating meetings with ministers, to returning home around 2am.

Political analyst Hendri Satrio, known as Hensa, stated that such content provides a realistic view of a public official’s duties, but transparency does not shield against negative public sentiment.

‘Not easy being a figure like Teddy. Working from morning, out of town, meetings until midnight, returning at dawn, yet still facing gossip. This is a common reality. Hard work isn’t always seen as remarkable; sometimes it’s taken for granted or even suspected,’ Hensa said in a statement on Sunday (24/5/2026).

Hensa views the daily documentation as a positive alternative reporting format, increasing bureaucratic transparency previously inaccessible to the public.

‘When activities are shown like this, the public gets a clearer picture. Whether they believe it or remain cynical is another matter, but at least there’s transparency rather than baseless speculation,’ he said.

However, the KedaiKOPI survey founder noted it’s understandable if some groups remain sceptical, viewing it as image-building. There’s a gap between what officials consider and what the public expects.

‘What’s shown is the process: meetings, travel, busy schedules. The public usually waits for concrete results. So it’s understandable if some call it image-building. For the public, work isn’t about how busy, but how tangible the impact is,’ Hensa explained.

Furthermore, Hensa analysed the psychological and internal dynamics within government due to visible figures like Seskab Teddy. His active and open communication style has raised performance standards in the eyes of leaders and the public.

This situation, Hensa said, may cause discomfort among officials used to working behind the scenes passively or showing less performance.

‘There might be unease. When someone is very active and engaging with the public, standards rise. Others can’t afford to be complacent. If they still appear idle, there might be notes from superiors,’ he said.

However, in terms of governance, Hensa sees this unease as positive, fostering healthy competition. Previously unresponsive officials are now compelled to demonstrate their work to avoid losing prominence.

‘Feel free to follow suit, especially officials who’ve been invisible. Let the public know who they are, what they do, and their programmes. But ultimately, it’s not about the content, but the tangible results felt by the public,’ he concluded.