LSI Survey: 53 Percent of Respondents Believe Society Fears Discussing Politics
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - As many as 53 percent of respondents from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) believe that society is always or often afraid to discuss politics.
The survey component on freedom conditions is included in the LSI survey titled “Public Evaluation and Commitment to Pancasila”, as explained by LSI Executive Director Djayadi Hanan in Cikini, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (12/4/2026).
Twelve percent of respondents stated that society is always afraid to discuss political issues; 41 percent stated that society is often afraid to discuss politics; 28 percent stated that society is rarely afraid to discuss politics; 14 percent stated that society is never afraid to discuss politics; and the remaining 5 percent did not know or did not answer.
When combining the 12 percent of respondents who believe society is always afraid to discuss politics and the 41 percent who believe society is often afraid to discuss politics, the figure reaches 53 percent.
“Do citizens now feel afraid of arbitrary arrests? Most citizens feel their fear has increased. Then, is society now afraid to talk about politics? Most of them are more afraid to discuss politics now,” said Djayadi Hanan.
Regarding the perception that the government ignores the constitution or legislation, this is felt by 51 percent of respondents.
“Is the government now ignoring the constitution and legislation? Quite a lot of society says the government ignores the constitution and legislation,” said Djayadi.
On the other hand, the majority of respondents (49 percent) believe society is never afraid to practise their religious teachings. Twenty-three percent feel often or always afraid in practising religious teachings.
Ninety-two percent of respondents claim to be satisfied with the freedom to practise religion, with details of 33 percent very satisfied and 59 percent quite satisfied.
Satisfaction levels are also high for the freedom to gather or associate, reaching 83 percent (14 percent very satisfied and 69 percent quite satisfied).
Satisfaction with guarantees of legal protection and equal treatment before the law reaches 70 percent.