Kakorlantas Holds Media Gathering: Calls for Joint Effort to Counter Hoaxes and Support Government Programmes
The Head of the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas), Inspector General Wibowo, held a gathering with members of the press. During the event, Wibowo emphasised the importance of a strategic partnership between Korlantas and the mass media to counter the spread of false narratives (hoaxes) and to oversee various strategic policies of Korlantas and the government.
Inspector General Wibowo stated that the relationship between Korlantas and the media is founded on openness and mutual need. According to him, Korlantas is ready to open its doors wide as a trusted source to clarify any wild issues developing in the public sphere.
“You also need us as information providers, as sources regarding several issues that may become polemics or topics of discussion in the public sphere, which of course must be conveyed correctly. And this is also good input so that the public is not biased towards information, of which there is currently a great deal of hoaxes,” said Wibowo.
Inspector General Wibowo also highlighted the prevalence of traffic-related disinformation that often resurfaces on social media despite having been clarified. Therefore, synergy with the mainstream media is a crucial bulwark in presenting transparent facts.
“I have countered many of these issues, but they emerge again, especially on social media. I have observed what you have done in the field some time ago, and honestly, I take my hat off to all of you,” he said.
Inspector General Wibowo likened the relationship between Korlantas and the media to close friends who sincerely support each other without compulsion. The media is considered to have a vital role in voicing safety education and accompanying the implementation of nationwide traffic operations.
“This is a strategic partnership between the National Police and the media. How the media is able to voice, publish, and socialise all policies within the National Police, particularly Korlantas,” he said.
In addition to handling hoaxes, the Kakorlantas asked the press to help oversee priority government programmes that will soon be implemented, one of which is the enforcement against over-dimension and overload (ODOL) vehicles.
“Then regarding the Zero ODOL situation, there will be many things that you need to know, that Korlantas will certainly go all-out to support the government’s Zero ODOL policy,” Wibowo asserted.
This open approach to the media is in line with the KARIB service commitment programme (Partnership, Active, Responsive, Intuitive, and Integrity) that Korlantas continues to promote throughout Indonesia.
Through the Partnership and Responsive pillars, Korlantas seeks to break down barriers with the public and journalists. This cultural transformation is also strengthened by the implementation of the basic 3S culture (smile, greet, salute) and the alertness of personnel in the field to present a traffic police figure that is firm, humane, and trustworthy.