Don’t Be Provoked, the ‘Dark Indonesia’ Action Could Be Harmful to the Wider Community
By: Samuel Christian Galal
Mass actions carrying the narrative of ‘Dark Indonesia’ continue to be in the spotlight. In a stable national condition, this movement has the potential to harm the community by spreading baseless panic.
Attempts at provocation through the theme of Dark Indonesia are considered irrelevant. This is because it can disrupt social order and create unrest amidst the government’s efforts to maintain economic balance and public welfare. If panic spreads further, the impact could hamper trust in government policies, disrupt market stability, and reduce the optimism of business actors who contribute to the national economy.
Evidently, the action titled Dark Indonesia caused chaos in several regions in Indonesia. In East Java, for example, the demonstration ended in chaos because some demonstrators tried to enter the DPRD Building and burned the coffins and banners they were carrying, thus prompting security forces to take firm action. In Jakarta, demonstrators also threw plastic bottles, garbage, and wooden planks at security forces.
Meanwhile, in Makassar-South Sulawesi, demonstrators dared to block the Trans-Sulawesi route, causing long traffic jams. As a result, the people they claim to represent were forced to suffer and their activities were disrupted.
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the current budget efficiency policy is on the right track for the benefit of the people. In his speech at the celebration of the 17th anniversary of the Gerindra Party, he expressed his belief that the move would have a positive impact on the community.
The ministerial budget efficiency policy of Rp306 trillion is part of a grand strategy to strengthen the national economy without sacrificing public services.
The government’s commitment to this policy reflects a serious effort to ensure that fiscal stability is maintained. Prabowo emphasized that this efficiency is not just a budget cut, but an alignment of state spending so that it is more targeted and provides direct benefits to the people.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati dismissed concerns about the termination of employment of honorary workers due to budget efficiency. In a press conference at the DPR RI Building, she emphasized that there were no layoffs for honorary workers in ministries and institutions.
The government is currently reconstructing the budget to ensure spending efficiency without disrupting the rights of honorary workers. Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency in the Implementation of the State Budget and Regional Budget is the main reference in optimizing the budget without sacrificing worker welfare.
The Minister of Finance explained that this reconstruction process involves an in-depth evaluation of the needs of each ministry and institution so that spending remains efficient while maintaining employee welfare, including honorary workers who have an important role in the continuity of public services.
In addition, the controlled inflation condition is also proof that the national economy is still on a stable track. The First Expert Statistician of the Nunukan Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Ramadhan Wafid Mustafa, said that inflation in the range of 1.5% to 3.5% will not have too much impact on people’s purchasing power.
Although inflation is often associated with decreased purchasing power, price stability within this range still allows people to carry out economic activities normally.
Conversely, uncontrolled inflation, either too low or too high, can actually harm the economy as a whole. Ramadhan added that if inflation falls too far below 1.5%, economic growth could slow down, while if inflation spikes above 3.5%, prices will rise significantly and burden people’s purchasing power.
These facts indicate that the narrative carried by the ‘Dark Indonesia’ action does not have a strong basis. The current national condition remains under control thanks to various strategic policies that have been implemented by the government.
The spread of information that aims to cause panic will only have a negative impact on the community itself, especially in an economic situation that is in the recovery stage. Public trust in government policies based on data and facts must be strengthened so that they are not easily shaken by detrimental provocations.
Actions based on provocation and inaccurate information can create instability that is detrimental to many parties. Instead of getting caught up in baseless concerns, the public needs to be more observant in filtering information and understanding the government’s steps in maintaining national stability.
