March 24, 2025 | 08:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto asked his aides to improve public and media communication, warning that the people must not receive false opinions and narratives. Prabowo’s request is conveyed by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, after a meeting with the president at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, March 24, 2025.
"The President asked to improve (public) communication,” the Gerindra Party politician said. “Don’t let the people be influenced by false opinions and narratives.”
Good communication, the deputy minister said, involves presenting programs in their entirety along with their successes. He then mentioned the Ministry of Agriculture as an example of success.
"For example, from my perspective, the government is currently self-sufficient. Our rice prices are good, while other countries are suffering from rice crises. This is what needs to be conveyed," he said.
Sudaryono also stressed that the government remains committed to the freedom of expression. The people have the right to criticize the government’s program, he said, as long as it is void of hate speech elements.
The government, on the other hand, is allowed to respond by explaining the programs being implemented.
Sudaryono also denied that Prabowo’s directive came after the slip-ups some of his cabinet members conducted while responding to inquiries or explaining certain government policies. He claimed, instead, that the government has done plenty for the interest of the people, alluding to the holiday bonus given to online taxi drivers.
A civil society coalition had previously criticized the communication style of the Presidential Communication Office Head, Hasan Nasbi, in responding to the terror attack against Tempo, where the media office received a severed pig’s head. Hasan’s response at the time was deemed inappropriate and lacked empathy.
"We strongly condemn the arrogant attitude displayed by the Head of the Presidential Communication Office, Hasan Nasbi, concerning the delivery of pig’s head at Tempo's office," said the coalition in an official statement on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Prabowo’s aide’s response—making light of the deliberate attack by seemingly instructing the affected party to cook the pig’s head—is deemed a violation of press freedom by the coalition. The statement was considered to be demeaning and unsuitable for a Presidential Communication Office Head.
"Therefore, we remind the President that these statements should not be left unaddressed, as they contain elements of hatred towards critical journalists or media," reiterated the coalition.
The coalition also perceived Hasan Nasbi's remarks as an indication of the lack of commitment by the Indonesian government, represented by the Presidential Communication Office, towards democracy and civil freedom. Instead of—at least—expressing concerns over the attack, the government seemed to be endorsing the terror act.
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