Observer Says Government Is Not Anti-Criticism

Executive Director of Kata Rakyat, Alwan Ola Riantobi, assessed that President Prabowo’s administration is sufficiently democratic and not anti-criticism in response to the wave of student demonstrations. According to him, one indicator is the government’s willingness to accept and open dialogue with students. “Demonstrations are good for a democratic country. What should be appreciated about the government is its willingness to accept and open dialogue with demonstrators. This shows that Mr Prabowo’s administration is democratic and not anti-criticism,” Alwan stated in an official release on Friday (26/6). This openness, according to Alwan, is also evident in the government’s willingness to listen to input from economic experts and the public in responding to the weakening rupiah and the decline in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IHSG). This was seen when fiscal and monetary policies were directed to address the root causes of the problem. “It must be understood that the weakening of the rupiah and the fall of the IHSG are due to various factors, such as global economic conditions, war, rising world interest rates, political uncertainty, or a domestic economic slowdown. Therefore, the government’s response is tailored to the main cause of the decline,” he added. The same applies to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, which has been a focus of student protests. Although it was a political promise, President Prabowo did not hesitate to conduct a major evaluation. “MBG is a form of Mr Prabowo’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise. If there are shortcomings in its implementation, the government immediately carries out mitigation and creates room for future improvements,” he said. Alwan therefore believes that the escalation of the student movement should subside once the government has committed to improving economic conditions. If it continues, he considers it an anomaly. “The escalation of student demonstrations also needs to be examined, whether their demands are based on in-depth study and research. We hope no parties are hijacking the student actions to undermine the government. So, if the government has committed to improvements and opened dialogue, the escalation of mass action should decrease and be halted,” he stated.