Pertamax Price Hike: Observer Questions Seskab's Role in Public Communication
Political communication observer Hendri Satrio has highlighted the public communication approach taken by PT Pertamina (Persero) regarding the recent adjustment of Pertamax fuel prices. He argued that the explanation for such a strategic policy should have been delivered directly by the management of the state-owned enterprise.
The remarks came after Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stepped in to provide an explanation about the Pertamax price increase via the Cabinet Secretariat’s official social media account.
Hensa, the founder of the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute, opined that while the Cabinet Secretariat’s initiative to provide information is commendable given the lack of response from the technical agency, the delivery of a price adjustment policy would ideally be conducted through a comprehensive official forum. He noted that using social media platforms alone is insufficient to communicate an energy commodity policy that has broad implications for public mobility.
“The step to convey the information was good, but it represents the bare minimum. A policy as significant as the Pertamax price increase should be announced verbally through an official press conference so that the reasons for the price adjustment and its impact on the public can be explained in detail,” Hensa said on Monday (15/6/2026).
Hensa further stressed the importance of state-owned enterprise directors being at the forefront in communicating any corporate operational policies that concern the public interest. He considers the principles of transparency and accountability to be fundamental obligations for a company whose products are consumed by millions of people daily.
He suggested that in the future, Pertamina should not rely on presidential institutions or the Cabinet Secretariat to manage the communication dynamics of its sectoral corporate policies. “Going forward, this communication pattern needs to be evaluated. If there is a policy with broad impact, the main stakeholders, in this case Pertamina, must proactively step forward to provide direct and visual explanations to the public,” he added.
The decline in global crude oil prices does not automatically lead to a decrease in non-subsidised fuel prices domestically. The increase in Pertamax fuel prices must be viewed as part of an adjustment to global conditions, particularly rising energy prices and the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate. The risk of social unrest due to the Pertamax price hike is relatively more manageable compared to if the government were to raise subsidised fuel prices.