Analyst Highlights Officials' Communication Style Sparking Controversy
The Director of the Indonesian House of Politics (Rumah Politik Indonesia), Fernando Emas, is urging President Prabowo Subianto to evaluate the ranks of officials and experts within the presidential circle who are deemed less than optimal in building public communication.
Fernando assessed that the communication pattern of some government officials in responding to public criticism tends to be defensive and risks worsening public perception of the government.
He specifically highlighted the statement by Ulta Levenia Nababan, a Senior Expert at the Presidential Staff Office, on social media. The statement, which referred to the University of Indonesia almamater using the term ‘yellow housedress’ when responding to student criticism, was deemed inappropriate.
“How poor the communication carried out by Ulta Levenia Nababan was, so demeaning to those voicing criticism. One by one, Prabowo Subianto’s aides seem to be putting their quality on display in responding to criticism. Yet rather than improving the situation, this only makes matters worse and shapes negative perceptions among the public,” said Fernando in a written statement on Tuesday (21/7).
Fernando reminded that government officials and experts carry out their duties using budgets sourced from state funds. Therefore, criticism voiced by the public or students should be answered openly, accountably, and constructively.
In his view, the government needs to avoid a communication style that attacks or demeans those delivering criticism.
Fernando also encouraged President Prabowo to take evaluative steps against officials deemed to employ counterproductive communication, without regard for their political backgrounds or their involvement in the winning team of the previous presidential election.
“Prabowo must immediately evaluate the aides who are making his government’s image increasingly bad. There is no need to hesitate to take action, even if they were previously part of the campaign team or volunteers in the last election,” he said.
Furthermore, Fernando assessed that the habit of responding to criticism defensively can breed fatigue among the public. Without corrective steps, such communication patterns are feared to affect the level of public trust in the government.
“The sincerity of their support for the Prabowo Subianto administration can be called into question if the impression they build grows increasingly negative. The decision rests with the President. If he wishes to improve public perception, an evaluation needs to be carried out of those whose communication has sparked polemics,” Fernando concluded.