President Prabowo is Not Appreciative of Indonesia as the Happiest Country, but Rather 'PR' for the Government

President Prabowo Subianto/screen capture/Antara

JAKARTA - Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, considers it reasonable that the results of the Global Flourishing Study (GFS) which places Indonesia as the country with the highest happiness level in the world, surpassing almost 200 countries, get the attention of President Prabowo Subianto.

The reason is that the GFS findings are a collaboration between Harvard University, Baylor University, and the trusted research institute Gallup.

"It is natural that the results of the research received the attention of President Prabowo. The President even admitted that he was touched by the results of the research, because in a state of not being prosperous, many children of the nation answered happily," said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 7.

Even so, Jamiluddin assessed that Prabowo should not be overwhelmed by the findings. Because according to him, Prabowo only associates happiness solely with welfare.

"With this kind of mindset, the happiness of a country is automatically only associated with the welfare of a country. If the country is prosperous or prosperous, then the people are assumed to be happy," he said.

"On the other hand, in developing and poor countries, it is assumed that few people will be happy," continued Jamiluddin.

According to him, this assumption is true if in a country, only pursues happiness in the world alone, which is measured by well-being. However, the people of a country, including Indonesia, there are also those who seek a place of happiness in the hereafter and the balance of the hereafter.

"For groups who are looking for a place of happiness in the afterlife, they will make faith the main source of happiness. Therefore, they may not be prosperous (poor), but they claim to be happy. Their confession can be what it is, not made up," he said.

"The same applies to groups seeking a place of happiness in the balance of the afterlife. This group, although in the world of prosperity is not adequate, may claim to be happy because he believes he will get it in the afterlife," he continued.

Therefore, according to Jamiluddin, if Indonesia is placed as the country with the highest happiness level in the world, it could be because its people predominantly seek a place of happiness in the afterlife. This is in line with the low income of Indonesian people.

"So, the happiness of the Indonesian people is not because of welfare but more sourced from faith," he said.

Of course, said Jamiluddin, this is a homework for the Indonesian government in making its people happy. The government, according to him, is not enough to just use the welfare approach in building Indonesia.

"This is only suitable for Indonesian people who pursue a place of happiness in the world alone," he said.

In addition, continued Jamiluddin, the Government also needs to meet the needs of the Indonesian people who want to be happy in the hereafter and the balance of the world and the hereafter. "For those who want to be happy in the hereafter, the government needs to intensify development in the field of religion so that this group feels cared for and comfortable in worship," he added.

According to Jamiluddin, the government also needs to balance the development of welfare and religion so that groups that pursue happiness in the balance of the world and the hereafter can be fulfilled.

"If this is done, then the government has carried out development fairly for all its people so that they can achieve happiness," he said.

"For this reason, the government should evaluate the approach to welfare in building the beloved country," he concluded.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto was touched when he learned about the survey results that placed Indonesia as the happiest country in the world.

In fact, Prabowo said, other nations are confused by the results of the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), which was conducted in collaboration between Harvard University, Baylor University, and the global research institution Gallup.

"This is confusing for other nations, confusing for other nations, and also touching for me," said Prabowo at the peak of the 2025 National Christmas Commemoration, at the Senayan Indoor Tennis, Jakarta, Monday, January 5.