With Rapid Dynamics, Government Must Change Its Communication Ways, Minister Says

Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara took a group photo with Public Relations Coordinating Board (Bakohumas) officials, at the Dyandra Convention Center, Surabaya, on Wednesday (18/11) evening

Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara said the Government must change the way it communicates and can no longer communite like it is now.

Therefore, he said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has issued a Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2015 on Public Information Management.

“If we are doing great, acceptable in the society as the main stakeholder, a Presidential Instruction will never be issued. The Presidential Instruction is issued because we need to improve ourselves. We need to understand that a Presidential Instruction indicates that we need to improve,” Minister of Communication and Informatics Rudiantara said when inaugurating officials of Public Relations Coordinating Board (Bakohumas) for 2015-2020 period, at the Dyandra Convention Center, Surabaya, on Wednesday (18/11) evening.

According to the Minister, the improvement must be done thoroughly and there is no single ministry which is expert at everything, including Ministry of Communication and Informatics. Thus, the Minister added, cooperation is important due to its dinamic context.

Rudi further said that the number of information officers had now reduced.

According to him, compared with the era of Department of Information which had 12,000 information officers, there are currently only 800 information officers at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

Meanwhile, based on their qualities, Minister of Communication and Informatics noted that global dynamics quickly escalated due to its change agent that has great technology.

“In contrast to previous condition when public relations is only about printed media, press release, inviting reporters from printed media, electronic media, television or radio, the current era also has online and social media,” the minister added.

“Thus, the way we respond to the dynamics must be in line with the changes,” Rudiantara said.

“If we are not capable, according to the Minister, we must ask for help.There are many people out there who willing to provide assistance. For example, netizens and others. We could ask them help to make us capable of doing rapid interaction along with its dynamics,” the Minister said.

The Minister also believed in the capability of 2015-2020 Bakohumas officials who were just inaugurated.

He reminded all, if there is a reshuffle system in the Government, then if it is necessary, he would apply reshuffle in Bakohumas administration in order to improve the performance.

Minister Rudiantara also called on 2015-2020 Bakohumas officials to formulate a clear work program immediately.

He admitted there is the intended work programs attached in 2015-2020 Bakohumas Administrational Decree. However, according to the Minister, the work programs are still in general, without details when they will be implemented.

“Work programs should have clear goal, objectives, and deadline. I did not see it in the 2015-2020 work programs. I will ask Chairman of Bakohumas to work hard in formulating the work programs immediately,” the Minister said.

The inauguration of the 2015-2020 Bakohumas officials was led by Directorate General of Communication and Information of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Djoko Agung Harijadi. (JAY/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)