Syahganda States Prabowo Tasked Bakom RI to Listen to Regional Aspirations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI, Syahganda Nainggolan, stated that the government is open to criticism and input from the public.

He acknowledged being appointed by President Prabowo Subianto to hear the aspirations of the community directly, including those from the regions.

“The President asked me to receive feedback. Here, I need to befriend everyone, from various areas, to listen,” said Syahganda during a discussion with media industry players, in a press release on Thursday (22/10/2026).

Syahganda emphasized that local media play a crucial role in helping the government understand issues occurring in the regions.

He noted that the proximity of local media to the community enables information regarding various issues on the ground to reach the government more swiftly, allowing for timely responses and handling.

“Regions are more aware of what is happening in Riau, Kalimantan, and South Sumatra regarding fires, as well as other issues. These are local media's areas. The sooner we know about these issues, the quicker we can react,” he explained.

Syahganda explained that Bakom RI is open to establishing communication and cooperation with various types of media, including television, print media, online media, and new media operating in social media domains.

As a government agency that carries the mandate of the public, he stated that Bakom RI is ready to build open relationships with various parties, including industry players in the regions.

Furthermore, Syahganda emphasized that government communication should be two-way.

This is because the government should not only convey information about policies and their achievements but also listen to the public's aspirations and understand the problems they face.

According to Syahganda, effective communication is essential for the public to gain a complete picture of the government’s performance.

He assessed that the government’s accomplishments and the public's perceptions of those results do not always align if the information communicated does not reach the public widely.

“There can be a disconnect between satisfaction survey results and the perceptions of our hard work; this can occur without good communication,” Syahganda remarked.

“For instance, hard work might be overshadowed by perceptions that the government is corrupt or lazy if figures and other details aren't clear. This is what the President has asked me to strive to communicate as widely as possible,” he added.