When "Criticism" Smiles in the Halls of Power

Over the last two days, the public has witnessed a scene that is bound to spark discussion: Rocky Gerung, long known as a vocal discourse actor who tests power through criticism, appeared at the palace during a state officials’ inauguration event. He chatted casually, shook hands, and even flashed smiles in the midst of the power circle. The atmosphere seemed relaxed and familiar. Yet, that is precisely the issue. The question is not who is present, but what is happening when criticism enters the space it has long scrutinised. On the surface, it appears as gestures: smiles, familiarity, light conversation. But beneath, meanings are at work. Criticism, previously standing outside, is now inside. It is no longer confronting but sharing space. This can be read as a sign of power’s openness. Yet it also demands a more careful interpretation. Is this a form of openness to criticism? An effort to embrace voices that have long been on the outside? Or a more subtle way of managing criticism? These questions need not be answered hastily, but they are important to pose so that interpretation does not stop at surface impressions. The meaning becomes clearer when a previously distant relationship begins to be redefined in personal terms. The statement that he is a ‘friend’ of the figure at the centre of power is not merely a light remark. It marks a shift: from criticism that maintains distance to closeness that opens other possibilities. In this position, criticism no longer just speaks to power but is also within its orbit. Yet criticism is born from distance. It requires a sufficiently remote position to see clearly and judge without direct pressure from power. This distance is not merely physical but an intellectual stance: the ability not to be absorbed into power’s logic. From here, criticism gains its disruptive force—its capacity to disturb and question.