Central Information Commission urges public bodies to strengthen commitment to information transparency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Central Information Commission (KI Pusat) Chairman Handoko Agung Saputro has urged public bodies to strengthen their commitment to information transparency in order to avoid being categorised as uninformative in the monitoring and evaluation (monev) of public information transparency.

“If a body is uninformative once or twice, we can understand. Perhaps there was a change of officials, perhaps there was negligence. But if it is repeatedly uninformative, then its commitment to public information transparency deserves to be questioned,” Handoko said during the “Kick Off and Socialisation of KIP Monev to Public Bodies” at the Abdulrahman Saleh Auditorium, RRI Jakarta, on Wednesday.

According to him, the availability of documents or information on a particular channel does not automatically demonstrate that the principle of transparency has been fulfilled if the public struggles to find, understand and utilise that information.

“Information transparency must also become an institutional culture, not merely the task of the PPID (Information and Documentation Management Officer),” he said.

He argued that monev should serve as a mirror for every public body to assess the extent to which its information transparency obligations have been fulfilled, including evaluating both what has been done well and what still needs improvement.

“Because this is not merely an administrative matter, the implementation of monev should not simply be about chasing an informative rating,” Handoko said.

He stressed that public information transparency is not just about satisfying assessment instruments, but must ensure that the information provided genuinely benefits the public.

The public, he said, has the right to know public information as part of implementing the principle of popular sovereignty in a democratic state.

Furthermore, Handoko reminded that the challenges of information transparency are growing in the digital era because the public requires information that is fast, accurate and easily accessible.

He expressed hope that all public bodies would participate in the 2026 monev process seriously, objectively, transparently and accountably.

Handoko stated that the success of public information transparency is ultimately measured not only by monev scores or the ratings obtained, but by the extent to which the public can more easily access information that is their right.