I Received a Report

In such conditions, there has been no visible effort for a turning point from the president. Conversely, the situation worsened with the appointment of 26 people to the Presidential Advisory Council.

In comparison, during the tenures of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo, only nine people were appointed. This is what frustrates the public, making them view the government as tone-deaf.

The echo occurring among the ministers ultimately spreads downwards. Echelon officials internalize and externalize the same narrative, sometimes with the same arrogance as the president.

The effect is that they regard other narratives and perspectives as irrelevant or even not credible, akin to running with blinders on.

Delay Praise

Instead of showering ministers with praise, the president must return to the realization that he is a recipient of the people's mandate.

The primary and foremost obligation is to listen to the public’s anxieties, serve them, provide solutions, and make them smile.

Currently, many micro-entrepreneurs, market traders, street vendors, and kiosks are complaining about declining revenues.

Some policies seem to be a trade-off and contribute to inflation. Raw material prices are increasing, and they adjust their selling prices accordingly. This causes the public to reduce their spending.

The effects are notably visible in the food and beverage MSMEs across various regions. Not to mention cuts in the TKD that have dampened the economy in the regions.

An INDEF survey (August 2026) confirmed that 22 percent of MSME actors reported a decrease in business activities related to the Nutritious Food Program (MBG).

Meanwhile, 14 percent reported a decline in business related to the presence of the Red and White Village Cooperative Program (KDMP).

Another survey from the Kadin Indonesia Institute (October 2026) revealed the proportion of micro-entrepreneurs interested in investing dropped sharply from 36.1 percent to 20 percent in the third quarter of 2026.

This reflects the caution among micro-entrepreneurs in developing their businesses.

From the demand side, a Bank Indonesia survey related to the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) shows a decline from 118.5 in August to 118.1 in September.

Compared to the start of the year at 127, this means the CCI has decreased by 8.9 points as of September 2026. This indicates a decline in consumer confidence regarding the current economic conditions and their expectations for the future.

In addition to delaying praise for his aides, the president should emulate his predecessors by frequently visiting the field. Or at the very least, read the news and monitor social media.

So that in the future, the content of his speeches changes to, “I read the news...”.