Analyst Says Prabowo's Visit to Senen is Not Image-Building

Political communication expert from Esa Unggul University, M. Jamiluddin Ritonga, has given his appreciation for President Prabowo Subianto’s blusukan action in a residents’ settlement along the railway tracks in the Senen area, Central Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon (26/3/2026). Jamiluddin assessed that the blusukan style was far from the impression of image-building and instead prioritised concrete solutions for the people.

According to Jamiluddin, the blusukan carried out by Prabowo seemed natural because it took place spontaneously and without prior formal announcement.

“The interaction that occurred appeared relaxed, straightforward, and without distance. This shows an emotional closeness between the President and the local residents. Prabowo did more listening to complaints and did not dominate the conversation,” Jamiluddin stated in his comments on Saturday (28/3/2026).

One point highlighted by Jamiluddin was Prabowo’s quick step in providing direct solutions on site. During the visit, Prabowo stated plans to build housing for residents living along the railway tracks.

Jamiluddin compared this style with the blusukan patterns often carried out by previous leaders. He assessed that Prabowo has succeeded in restoring the original meaning of blusukan, namely going into the field to cut through bureaucratic paths and provide quick assistance without rigid protocols.

“This blusukan has a clear purpose to solve problems, not just to meet residents for popularity. This is also evident from the absence of an excessive camera team to document every movement. The focus is on problem-solving, not optimising documentation for image-building,” he said.

Furthermore, Jamiluddin stated that this egalitarian approach is very effective in building the people’s trust in their leader. By seeing the community’s conditions directly without barriers, Prabowo is seen as strengthening his leadership legitimacy in the eyes of the lower-class residents.

“The essence of blusukan is a leader’s approach that is close to the people. It is hoped that this is what Prabowo aims to achieve by going directly into the residents’ homes along the railway tracks in the Senen area,” Jamiluddin concluded.