Minister Of Transportation: Public Relations Must Be Able To Build Empathy

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

BANDUNG - Good collaboration between sectors in the transportation sector is necessary to gain public trust. The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is impacting all sectors, including transportation, and poses challenges for transportation public relations.

The perception arises that people are still unsure about using public transportation for fear of contracting COVID-19. Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi asked for good synergy and collaboration in the management of communication between public relations for transportation both on the regulatory and operator side, both at the central and regional levels.

This was conveyed by Budi Karya Sumadi when opening the 2020 Transportation Sector Public Relations Communication Forum with the theme "Public Relations of Transportation: Adapting, Collaborating, and Shining" held by the Ministry of Transportation's Public Communication and Information Bureau in Bandung, Thursday (28/11).

"Transportation public relations must synergize and collaborate well in narrating new habits (IMR) in the transportation sector to convince the public that our public transportation is safe and healthy," said the Minister of Transportation.

The Minister of Transportation hopes that the existing communications at the Ministry of Transportation or transportation operators are able to carry out directed public communication, build empathy, and be sustainable.

"Currently, the public is in the midst of confusion over information on social media about public transportation whose truth is not yet clear. For this reason, the public relations of transportation must be able to carry out public communication that builds empathy, is clear and able to convince the public," explained the Minister of Transportation.

The 2020 Public Relations Communication Forum for the Transportation Sector was attended by around 100 people within the Ministry of Transportation (Central and UPT), as well as operators of transportation facilities and infrastructure such as: Garuda Indonesia, Angkasa Pura I and II, Pelindo I to IV, Damri, ASDP, Airnav Indonesia , PT KAI, PT KCI, and others, the Department of Transportation, and other related agencies.

The event was also attended by a number of expert resource persons in the field of Public Communication including: Special Staff Coordinator for the President of AAGN Ari Dwipayana who explained "The Narrative of the Government of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet in 2021, Special Staff of the Minister of Transportation for Human Resources and Communication Adita Irawati who explained" Sector Public Relations Strategy and Collaboration Transportation ".

Then there were also PR and Brand Communication Practitioners / CEO Media Buffet Bima Marzuki who explained "Facing the Challenges of Transportation Public Relations Performance in the Era of Adaptation to New Habits", and psychologist Tara de Thouars who explained "Maintaining the Mental Health of Transportation Public Relations Actors and Understanding Community Mental Conditions in Pandemic Period ".

Through this meeting, it is hoped that all human transportation can adapt quickly in changing the work culture and understanding the public, collaborating on transportation transportation, and shining together in answering public doubts about the transportation sector and committing to educating the public to wisely transport in order to remain productive and healthy.