Bakom Reveals Government's Priority to Increase Public Satisfaction
The Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom), Muhammad Qodlar, has acknowledged that public communication remains a significant task for the government in its efforts to increase public satisfaction with the Prabowo-Gibran administration. He stated that coordination between ministries, agencies, and regional governments will be strengthened to ensure that information regarding government programmes is more active and easily accessible to the public.
“The next task is communication. Therefore, our communication must be more intensive, more maximal, and more proactive,” Qodari said at Graha Marinir, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Qodari noted that his agency has implemented several steps to unify communication patterns across ministries and agencies. One such measure is a regular weekly press conference held every Wednesday to provide updates on the progress of strategic government programmes. During these sessions, ministries and agencies are given the opportunity to explain the development of their respective programmes. According to Qodari, this pattern is a way to ensure that information regarding government policies does not operate in isolation and can be delivered more purposefully to the public.
In addition to communication forums, Bakom is also requesting that every ministry and agency prepare key points that are easily accessible to the media. This step is intended to ensure that information regarding government programmes and activities is communicated as effectively as possible to the public. Qodari added that the agency is also pushing for more regular communication schedules, requesting that each ministry and agency dedicate specific times each month to present their work programmes and various activities.
This effort to orchestrate communication is now being expanded to regional governments. The Bakohumas forum held at Graha Marinir serves as a space to bring together public relations officials from ministries and agencies with those from regional governments to optimise communication channels at the local level.
According to Qodari, the strengthening of communication will be carried out through cross-ministerial and cross-agency coordination. Bakom will continue to communicate with the Ministry of Communication and Digital, the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He stated that these steps are necessary to support the target of increasing public satisfaction with the Prablamo-Gibran administration, which currently stands at 51 per cent. Qodari believes that the target to increase this to 70-80 per cent must be accompanied by more effective delivery of government programmes.
Qodari mentioned that while the government has a clear determination to improve the quality and welfare of the people, there are still several technocratic issues in the implementation of certain programmes that need to be addressed. One example cited was the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme. Qodari stated that improvements are ongoing, including firm action against problematic Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
He noted that the Head of the National Nutrition Agency, Daryono, has undertaken various improvements, including closing several SPPGs and sanctioning their heads. The government is also preparing a mechanism to allow the public to monitor the menus provided under the MBG programme.
For Qodari, improving programme quality must go hand-in-hand with improving how the government communicates it to the public. He emphasised that even well-running programmes require strong communication so that the public is aware of their progress and benefits. Therefore, Bakom will increase the intensity of communication, both internally and with ministries, agencies, and regional governments.
“In essence, we will be more proactive and more intensive in our communication,” Qodari concluded.