Learning from the Grass Roots

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Logistics for fast food raw materials are collected by young people who turn their own cafe into a public kitchen called \'Kitchen for the People\' in the Pisangan area, Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (8/4/2020).

The hashtag #IndonesiaTerserah (Whatever Indonesia) is trending on social media. This is the public’s satirical response to the unclear and constantly changing government policies.

It must be acknowledged that there is confusion at the grass roots on what the government is doing to control the Covid-19 outbreak. Confusion reigns due to conflicting information in the government’s public communication. The government’s statements contradict the reality. The public is confused by phrases that should not be confusing, such as “mudik” (exodus) and “pulang kampung” (returning to one’s hometown); between “war on Covid-19” and “at peace with Covid-19”. The policies change too often and could cause demotivation.

On the one hand, the government is asking public figures to tell people not to leave town. On the other, however, due to incomplete communication lacking in context, it has resumed passenger transportation services.

Also read: How Neighbors Can Help Each Other amid Outbreak

People have started moving about. Crowds have become unavoidable. People gather to mark the closure of a fast food outlet, and in downtown Jakarta, no less. Center-regional relations are bumpy, with an undercurrent of political rivalry. The residents of the capital city may have no clue as to the region’s actual state of emergency. Has the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) been tightened or eased?

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

A volunteer arranges bags of staple food items to be distributed to poor people near Tambaklorok fishing village in Semarang municipality, Central Java, on Tuesday (28/4/2020). The assistance will be given to people affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The entire nation feels like it has too many authority figures: the central government, ministries, regional administrations, task forces, governors, regents, mayors. In the public’s eyes, they are all part of government. The people will follow whatever policies they issue. Those who do not will be punished. However, when these authority figures issue conflicting rules, the people become the victims. This will affect public trust in the government.

We are fortunate that the spirit of kegotongroyongan (mutual assistance) is alive and well in our communities.

President Joko Widodo has the highest authority as the head of state and the head of government. The Covid-19 management policies must be clear and firm so that the nation can “win” the war. If the policies change, there must be an explanation. The text must not be without context, which will allow people to interpret the text as freely as they like.We are fortunate that the spirit of kegotongroyongan (mutual assistance) is alive and well in our communities. There have been protests. However, our people possess the spirit of sharing and helping others. They work in humanitarian operations in silence. This humanitarian spirit as reflected in principles of the Pancasila state ideology must be sustained.

This daily has reported the positives of the Indonesian people. Solidarity has grown ever stronger. People are helping one another without any bureaucratic barriers, without any commander. This positive energy at the grass roots must be nurtured. Apart from the large-scale social restrictions, collaboration is needed in who does what, instead of who gets what and how much.

It is time that leaders of state institutions, political parties, leading mass organizations and the business community sit down together virtually to take a collective step against Covid-19 and save the economy. Is this not the essence of Pancasila: Learn from the pure-minded grass roots.

Also read: The Dynamics of Policy Response to Covid-19