Analyst says performance and public closeness boost Teddy's popularity

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Consistent presence among the community and rapid responses to various public issues are the primary factors driving the increasing popularity of Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Political communication analyst Hendri Satrio stated that this phenomenon is interesting because Teddy is a bureaucratic official who possesses neither a political machine nor a party support base.

“He is trending on social media, but even more so in the field. Whether in large cities or remote areas, the fact is that many people know and like him,” said Hensa, the nickname for Hendly Satrio, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.

The founder of the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute assessed that Teddy’s popularity is supported more by his performance and proximity to the people rather than political factors.

According to him, this was evident from the high level of public enthusiasm when Teddy accompanied President Prabowo Subianto at a Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) event in Madura, East Java, as well as at an event attended by approximately 100,000 farmers and fishermen in Gorontalo.

“Even though Teddy is not a regional head, not a minister with his own programmes, not a politician, not the child of an official, and has no party affiliation, he is that popular among the public. This must be due to performance,” he said.

Hensa believes that the ability to build closeness with the public through direct presence and effective communication is the factor that allows Teddy to be accepted by various groups without political support.

“If someone can achieve wide acceptance without party attributes or a political machine behind them, it demonstrates proficient communication skills and social proximity. This is something rarely found in current bureaucratic officials,” he added.

He suggested that political actors and bureaucrats should study this phenomenon so that interactions with the public return to being oriented towards public trust and real work, rather than mere image-building.