Public controversy arose following remarks by Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who referred to student demands of “17+8” as merely the “voice of a small minority.” Although he has since issued an apology, many argue that such a statement was inappropriate for a public official.
A similar incident occurred recently when Minister of Religious Affairs Nasarudin also apologized for comments perceived as “demeaning teachers”.
Professor Nyarwi Ahmad, a political communication expert and lecturer at the Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fisipol UGM), explained that each public official may have their own communication style.
“First of all, every official may indeed have their own style in communication,” he said on Monday (Sep. 15).
According to Professor Ahmad, these communication styles are also influenced by public expectations and standards. Often, what a public official says does not align with what society anticipates.
“People usually already have an image of a public figure or state leader as someone who is expected to listen, to accommodate aspirations, and to understand what the public hopes for,” he explained.
In the case of the Minister of Finance, Professor Ahmad noted that the controversy has sparked criticism of his personal communication style.
While acknowledging that every official has their own way of communicating, he emphasized that public officials must always exercise caution when speaking. He further noted that the wave of protests by students and the public stemmed in part from the way officials expressed themselves.
“I believe the Minister of Finance must improve his communication style, as he no longer represents himself alone but also the state institution he leads,” he remarked.
Professor Ahmad warned that controversial statements from ministers could provoke not only negative responses from market players but also public distrust. Moreover, such remarks risk eroding public confidence in the official personally and could even damage the President’s reputation.
To address such issues, Professor Ahmad suggested improvements in the communication styles of public officials. He pointed out that ministers have the means to establish public communication teams, including spokespersons, which could provide solutions.
“Ultimately, it all comes back to the policy objectives to be achieved. This depends on the political will within the system that officials seek to build, starting from the highest levels down to ministries,” he concluded.
Reporter: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik