Kompas Poll: Government Needs to Improve Public Communication

Transparency of information and patterns in communicating policies or programs remain points of concern for the government. In fact, this is crucial for gaining public sympathy and trust.

Public policies concerning the livelihoods of many people, issued by the government, often evolve into a "wild ball" because they are not well-communicated before being implemented.

As a result, quoting the statement of Uni Lubis, a senior journalist and editor-in-chief of IDN Times, the policies issued by the government are akin to a yo-yo game, thrown out only to be pulled back again.

Take, for example, the plan to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 12 percent at the beginning of the year, which was later canceled. Then, the new regulation on 3-kilogram LPG gas cylinders, which could no longer be sold by retailers, was revised following public opposition.

“Yoyo policy” or “push-pull” policy describes a government that is inconsistent or often changes its policies.

When there is rejection or negative response, the announced policy is immediately revised or postponed. This gives the impression that the policy decided by the government was not thoroughly prepared.

As a result, various government policies launched over the past four months have triggered public responses, leading to the hashtag #Indonesia Gelap trending on social media.

The hashtag became increasingly popular along with the student demonstrations spearheaded by student executive bodies (BEM) throughout Indonesia, February 17, 2025.

The demonstration titled "Indonesia Gelap," which has been ongoing for nearly a week in various regions, demands accountability for several policies of President Prabowo Subianto's administration that are considered harmful and burdensome to the people, as well as threatening the future of the younger generation.

The public often feels overshadowed by issues and policies that do not support the interests of the people. One of the policies highlighted by students is budget efficiency, particularly in the fields of education and health.

Policy implementation cannot be separated from the communication process. Every public policy needs to be communicated well to the public.

This aims to ensure that every public policy is conveyed and understood by the public in its entirety so that there are no misunderstandings and unrest.

The Press Council on National Press Day 2025 also reminded the government to be more transparent and accountable regarding public policies.

Such openness of information and accountability are needed for good governance, and even become a prerequisite for national resilience. Unfortunately, the openness of information related to public policy has not been optimally received by the public.

This is at least recorded from the results of a Kompas poll on February 10-13, 2025. Seven out of 10 respondents said that every new policy/regulation/program from the government (ministries/institutions) has not been properly socialized to the public, either directly or indirectly.

Socialization to communicate a policy is important. Because, of course, policies have a direct influence on the achievement of people's livelihoods, namely general welfare. The lack of policy socialization is a note that public policy communication has not run properly.

In fact, openness of information is an important thing as regulated in Law Number 14 of 2008 concerning Openness of Public Information.

It is stated, among other things, that the right to obtain information is a human right. Openness of public information is also one of the important characteristics of a democratic country that upholds the sovereignty of the people to realize good state administration.

This is also in line with the opinion of half of the survey respondents who stated that the government should socialize draft policies/regulations/programs that have a broad impact on the community.

Socialization to the community should be done before government policies/rules/programs are implemented. The existence of open information will actually encourage public participation in development because it concerns their livelihoods.

Thus, trust in the government is getting stronger. A series of student demonstrations in the regions indicate a distrust in the government that needs serious attention.

Gaining public trust as a form of legitimacy is very much needed by a government that has just started its work. Positive public support will certainly facilitate the government in achieving its goals or vision and mission.

Therefore, the public also hopes that the government will conduct an in-depth study based on data first before issuing a policy, especially if it will have an impact on the wider community. This opinion was conveyed by 30.7 percent of respondents.

It is also important to calculate the impact. This was voiced by around 19 percent of respondents.

Conducting public consultation with related parties is also a concern for 16.9 percent of respondents to consider before issuing policies. Another important thing to note is that there is no need to rush into making decisions for the good of the people. One-fifth of respondents underlined this point.

If the policies to be issued are acceptable to the public, the potential for causing polemics and rejection leading to mass action can be avoided.

The poll also captured respondents' opinions highlighting three main things so that the policies taken by the government do not cause polemics and receive rejection from the public. The three things are siding with the common people, being studied in depth, and not being hasty.

However, the way the government communicates which ultimately results in gaining public trust will influence its image and performance assessment in the eyes of the public.

The majority of respondents (87.3 percent) stated so. If the current communication model related to public policy is still practiced by the government, it is understandable if there is a blunder in the decision taken.

The "wild ball" that develops over policies issued that increasingly do not solve problems can actually erode public trust.

The crisis of trust in the government could be greater if there is no change in the way the government decides and communicates a policy. (Litbang Kompas)