Disband Discussion at UGM, Government Emphasizes the Importance of Dialogue

Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI Muhammad Qodari emphasized that dialogue must be prioritized in the practice of a democratic state. And the government is committed to continuing to dialogue with the public in an effort to implement and continue to improve the quality of national priority programs.

"Democracy is something that can happen if there is a dialogue. If there is no dialogue, only demands, it's not called democracy. It's all me, he wants it alone," said Qodari, quoted Wednesday, June 17.

Qodari's statement was in response to the anger of some students of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) over the arrival of three state officials at a discussion event at the UGM Innovation and Creativity Joglo (GIK), Yogyakarta, Monday, June 15 evening.

The discussion, which featured the Head of the Poverty Eradication Acceleration Agency, Budiman Sudjatmiko; Minister of ATR/BPN Nusron Wahid; and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, went smoothly. In the middle of the discussion, a number of students rushed to the stage and spread out a banner of rejection. The discussion room then became dissolved.

Responding to the dialogue event, Qodari saw that some students approved, even the campus authorities knew. In fact, the discussion event went smoothly and the students were orderly.

"So actually there is an anomaly there, there is an interruption," said Qodari.

Regarding the assumption that students who rushed into the discussion felt tired of the discussion and wanted to demand from the government, Qodari saw it as anger only.

"I think that dialogue, yes, is answered by another dialogue, it's not difficult. I think that is the most proportional answer. If we talk about democracy and talk about dialogue," said Qodari.

Regarding the demands of students who want the government to stop the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, Qodari said the program was a priority program for President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto. The program was born from Prabowo's anxiety to quickly solve the stunting problem in Indonesia.

The priority program was also born from the mandate of the people to Prabowo who won the general election (pemilu). The public chose Prabowo to carry out his vision and mission during the campaign.

"Well, at that point I also want to give context, that the name MBG you (students) can't ask to stop immediately. Prabowo was chosen because of the work program that was implemented, it can't be stopped," said Qodari.

Therefore, he continued, student disapproval must be made into two categories. The first is political disapproval, and the second is non-political. For the political one, according to him, there is no room for negotiation.

"It is a big mistake to demand that Mr. Prabowo stop the program. Because it is his campaign promise. You are the same as saying Mr. Prabowo should not fulfill the campaign promise," said Qodari.

According to him, students must see the big picture. As many as 96 million Indonesian people, the majority chose Prabowo. This means, one package with a work program and his vision-mission.

"Well, if your disapproval (students) is categorical, it is tenocratic, yes, we will improve what is less," explained Qodari.