The General Elections Commission (KPU) officially revoked KPU RI Decree No. 731 of 2025 concerning the Determination of Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidate Requirements Documents as Restricted Public Information on Tuesday, Sep. 16.
The decree had previously classified 16 documents as restricted, including copies of national ID cards, diplomas, police clearance certificates (SKCK), and others. The revocation came in response to widespread public criticism following the issuance of the decree.
Professor Nyarwi Ahmad, a political communication expert and lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), stated that the revocation of KPU RI Decree No. 731 of 2025 was the right step.
However, he noted that the reversal highlighted problems in KPU’s public communication practices.
“The revocation indicates that KPU does not yet have a proper understanding of public information transparency,” he said on Tuesday (Sep. 30) at UGM Campus.
According to Professor Ahmad, KPU’s public communication practices need to be improved, not only institutionally but also at the leadership level.
He emphasized that such decisions should have been made after consulting with the Central Information Commission (KIP). Instead, consultation with KIP only took place after the decree had already been revoked.
“This shows that the quality of KPU’s public communication remains poor under current conditions and therefore needs better management,” he added.
Professor Ahmad emphasized that transparency of information for public officials is essential, as it aligns with Indonesia’s democratic system and is mandated under Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure.
The regulation provides a legal basis for ensuring transparency, allowing the public to assess the accountability and integrity of officials.
“I believe the public has the right to know and understand personal data relevant to evaluating the quality of public officials,” he remarked.
He further emphasized that strategic public institutions, including KPU, require professional public communication managers. Such professionalism, he explained, would enhance institutional integrity, public trust, and opinion toward these institutions.
“State institutions need to improve their models of public communication so as not to provoke controversy or diminish credibility and public trust,” he concluded.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Kompas