Dark Indonesia Action is Irrelevant, Society is Asked Not to be Influenced
By: Rahmat Gunawan
Mass actions such as Dark Indonesia have the potential to create tension and worsen the national situation. The recent demonstrations showed that there were parties trying to take advantage of the momentum for certain interests. Therefore, the public must remain vigilant and not be easily provoked by information that is not yet clear.
A number of parties have emphasized that government policy continues to prioritize public welfare, including in the education sector. Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati emphasized that the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) scholarship budget remains available without reduction.
A total of 1,040,192 students can still access the scholarship with a total budget of IDR 14.69 trillion which has not been cut. In addition, other scholarships such as the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP), scholarships from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikti Saintek), and the Indonesia Bangkit scholarship are still running according to the initial plan. With this certainty, there is no reason for certain parties to use the issue of the education budget as a trigger for unrest in society.
Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, also emphasized that the budget efficiency implemented by the government will not impact employee salaries or public services, including the education sector.
President Prabowo has paid great attention to improving the quality of education, including the program to improve more than 10 thousand schools this year. This step is concrete evidence that the government continues to be committed to improving facilities and public welfare. In addition, the program to provide nutritious food for students continues to run in order to improve the quality of education and health of future generations.
Other efforts made by the government include the integration of international curriculum into the national education system. This step aims to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian students at the global level.
The PCO ensures that the KIP program and various other scholarships remain available without any budget cuts. The budget efficiency carried out aims to increase the effectiveness of the use of state funds without sacrificing essential sectors such as education and public welfare. Therefore, any form of narrative that states that government policies will have a negative impact on society must be viewed critically.
On the other hand, the Special Staff of the Minister of Religion, Farid F Saenong, said that the budget efficiency carried out would not disrupt education services in the country. The efficiency of IDR 11 trillion in the Directorate General of Islamic Education is certain not to have an impact on the teaching and learning process in madrasas or universities.
The government continues to strive to ensure that the policies taken do not disrupt access to education for the community. Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that the ministry will continue to provide the best service to the community, even though there are efficiency policies being implemented.
The issue of education budget cuts has become propaganda material for certain groups who want to create unrest in society. In a situation full of uncertainty, various interest groups can take advantage of mass actions to push certain political agendas. Demonstrations held without understanding the actual conditions actually risk worsening the national situation and hindering efforts to restore the economy and social stability.
The government continues to strive to maintain the stability of the country by ensuring that every policy remains on the side of the community. However, propaganda that spreads fear about education budget cuts can lead to dangerous disinformation. The public is expected to be more selective in receiving information and not be easily provoked by narratives that do not have a strong basis.
The existence of mass actions is certainly very risky and can be exploited by parties who want to create instability. Therefore, vigilance must be maintained so that the public is not easily influenced by propaganda that is not in accordance with the reality of government policies. Demonstrations that do not have a clear basis will only harm many parties and worsen the national situation.
It is important to understand that every policy implemented by the government aims to improve public welfare. Educational programs, including scholarships, continue to run according to established plans.
Any form of narrative that tries to lead public opinion with inaccurate information needs to be responded to critically so as not to have a negative impact on the country’s social and economic stability.
