Daftar Sbmptn – The public has not yet forgotten the statement by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Adies Kadir regarding housing allowances that sparked a national uproar. Now it’s the turn of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal for Public Welfare to draw sharp attention with his comments about the profession of nutritionist in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. His statement, deemed insensitive, immediately sparked an intense discussion that negatively impacted the DPR RI’s reputation.Cucun stated that the term nutritionist is unnecessary in the MBG program. He also believes the position could be filled by high school graduates with brief training.
“There’s no need for a nutritionist. Is it suitable? I’ll resolve this with the House of Representatives. Then, the Head of the Health Office will just have to train the people,” he said, as quoted on Wednesday (11/19/2025).
In response to this, W.T. Daniealdi, a lecturer at the Indonesian Computer University (UNIKOM), stated that the communication issues among the DPR RI leadership can no longer be considered isolated incidents, but rather symptoms of a serious systemic problem.
Daniealdi explained that DPR leaders are not merely party politicians, but the face of the legislative body. Therefore, every word they utter carries institutional weight and the country’s credibility is at stake.
“They are the official spokespersons of the DPR. They are the face of the institution to the public, the media, the government, and other state institutions,” he wrote.
According to the observer of politics, defense and security, and international relations, problems arise when DPR RI leaders forget that their positions require high standards of public ethics. Therefore, speech errors, oversimplification of complex issues, or belittling of certain professions are not personal mistakes, but rather a failure of the institution to read the public’s inner mood. When political elites fail to demonstrate sensitivity, he continued, they create a wider distance between representatives and their constituents.
Public attention has once again focused on the House of Representatives (DPR RI) after legislator Cucun Ahmad and several academics sharply criticized the quality of communication by the institution’s leaders. In recent months, national political dynamics have been marked by various statements by DPR leaders deemed inconsistent, biased, and lacking clarity for the public. This has prompted a more in-depth discussion on the importance of quality political communication from public officials.
According to Cucun Ahmad, a DPR member who actively provides critical insights into the institution’s performance, communication by DPR RI leaders should prioritize the principles of clarity, transparency, and a sense of responsibility to the public. He believes that every statement issued by DPR leaders has a significant impact on public perception, both nationally and internationally.Cucun emphasized that the DPR, as a representative body of the people, is obligated to maintain the credibility of its political communication.
“The role of the leadership is not only to lead meetings or decide on political agendas, but also to be the face of the institution in conveying official positions. Therefore, communication must be precise, accurate, and free from multiple interpretations,” he emphasized in a recent discussion forum attended by academics from various universities.
Academics’ View: House Leadership Communication Ineffective
In the same forum, several academics in attendance provided objective analyses of the communication performance of the House of Representatives (DPR) leadership. They generally agreed that several recent statements demonstrated a lack of internal coordination and a weak, structured delivery of political messages.
Dr. Farhan Wicaksono, a lecturer in political communication at a state university, stated that public officials’ communication should ideally be based on three principles: information accuracy, narrative consistency, and alignment with the public interest. He observed that these three principles were not fully present in the communication displayed by several DPR leaders.
“When leaders of public institutions convey information, they are carrying the name of the institution as well as the credibility of the state. Communication that is unclear, inconsistent, or not supported by solid data can undermine public trust,” said Farhan.
A similar assessment was expressed by Prof. Hartini Lestari, an expert in rhetoric and government communication. She believes that one of the main problems is the lack of narrative preparedness in dealing with rapidly evolving issues in the public sphere. In the digital era, when news spreads within seconds, state institution leaders ideally need to have a mature and measured communication strategy.
“It’s not just about what is said, but how it is said. State institution leaders must understand that they are speaking to 270 million people, not just the journalists in front of them,” explained Prof. Hartini.
Declining Public Trust Under the Spotlight
Various public opinion surveys released by several research institutions over the past two years have shown that public trust in the House of Representatives (DPR) has often been at a concerning level. Although the legislative role remains important and strategic, this negative perception is inextricably linked to the communication style of DPR leaders, which is considered incapable of instilling public confidence.
Cucun Ahmad believes that the DPR’s political communication challenges can be overcome if the leadership conducts internal consolidation and establishes a more professional line of communication. He recommends that the DPR strengthen the role of communication experts to help ensure that every statement from the leadership has undergone issue mapping, risk analysis, and the development of a well-thought-out narrative.
“Ultimately, communication is the bridge between the government and the public. If that bridge is fragile, the message conveyed will be incomplete,” said Cucun.
The Need for Political Communication Reform in the DPR
- Academics believe that the DPR needs to make improvements in several aspects to improve the quality of political communication. Some recommendations that emerged during the public discussion include:
- Development of Official Communication Guidelines
Every statement from the leadership should follow standard guidelines containing format, boundaries, and communication quality standards. - Crisis Communication Training
House leaders must be able to respond quickly to sensitive issues with appropriate language and avoid public misinterpretation. - Strengthening the Media and Public Relations Team
The House of Representatives needs a more professional strategic communications unit, including issue analysts, scriptwriters, and dedicated spokespersons. - Narrative Coordination Between Leaders
Leadership communications must not contradict each other. The narrative must be aligned to avoid public confusion. - Information Transparency
House leaders are expected to be more open in communicating policy developments, debates, and the results of important meetings.
Future Hopes: A More Communicative and Responsive House
The discourse presented by Cucun Ahmad and academics received a mixed response from the public. Many hoped that the constructive criticism would provide momentum for House leaders to improve the quality of their communication, not only in conveying information but also in building rapport with the people.
Cucun Ahmad emphasized that this criticism was not intended to bring down the House, but rather to remind the House that it is an institution that holds a significant mandate from the people. Every word spoken by the leaders should represent the broader public interest.
With the increasing demands for transparency and accountability in today’s information age, the public hopes that the leadership of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) will improve the quality of their communication so that the public can receive clear, accurate, and useful information. Consistent improvements are believed to restore public trust in the legislative body.