When Residents Choose to Protest Damaged Roads via Social Media

Name: When Residents Choose to Protest Damaged Roads via Social Media
Uploaded: 2024-04-25T02:00:55Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The condition of damaged roads in Lampung is back in the spotlight after residents protested the condition of potholes on social media.

The condition of damaged roads in Lampung is back in the spotlight after residents protested the condition of potholes on social media.

This article has been translated using AI. See Original .

VINA OKTAVIA

· 4 minutes read

The condition of damaged roads in Lampung Province has once again become the public spotlight after residents of Sukadana District, East Lampung Regency, protested the condition of the roads with potholes via social media. Residents' choice to complain via social media reflects the deadlock in communication between the community and the local government.

Residents protested the condition of the damaged road in the area by scattering catfish on the potholed road. Then, there were residents who scattered fishing nets on the street.

The residents' protest was held to coincide with the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of East Lampung Regency, Monday (22/4/2024). The video then circulated and went viral after being uploaded by a number of social media accounts.

One of the Instagram accounts that uploads the condition of damaged roads in East Lampung is @abangtaun. The video containing the criticism has been watched by as many as 242,000 netizens as of Wednesday (24/4/2024).

"The road condition in Sukadana is very concerning and poses a danger to the surrounding residents, yet there is no attention given by the local government," said Rahmat Afandi (35), a resident of Sukadana District, East Lampung Regency.

According to him, the condition of potholed roads makes riders vulnerable to falling and slipping, especially when passing through damaged roads during heavy rain. Residents have also asked the local government to build roads. However, their aspirations have never been heard. That is why residents choose to express their protest through social media.

Endra Zukarnain (35), a resident from Sukadana District who currently lives in Bandar Lampung, expressed his concern about the damaged roads in his hometown. Every time he comes home, he has to struggle through severely damaged roads for 4-5 kilometers to reach his parents' house. "The road has been damaged for years and has never been repaired. Currently, it is filled with potholes and has no asphalt," said Endra.

Protests by residents of Lampung regarding the condition of damaged roads through social media is not a new occurrence. Before this, Bima Yudho Saputro, a content creator from Lampung Timur Regency, also released a 3 minute 28 second video through the Tiktok account @awbimaxreborn on April 7, 2023. In the video, he highlighted various issues, including the condition of damaged roads, the dishonesty in the education system, weak governance, and dependence on the agricultural sector.

A video containing criticism then gained the attention of the wider community. Even President Joko Widodo came directly to Lampung to review the condition of the damaged roads on May 5, 2023. Currently, the severely damaged section of the Simpang Randu-Seputih Surabaya road has been cemented.

Regarding this matter, public policy observer from Lampung University, Dedi Hermawan, believes that the choice of residents to voice their protests through social media reflects the communication deadlock between the community and the local government. Residents feel that the viral power of social media is more effective than conveying aspirations directly through their representatives.

"The residents hope that the protests can also reach the central government because they feel that communication with the local government has reached a dead end," said Dedi.

Also read: Waiting for Smooth Roads in Lampung

He said that the residents' protests conveyed during the 25th anniversary of East Lampung Regency should have been a wake-up call for the local government officials and members of the regional legislative council. He considered that both the local government and legislative members who should supervise regional policies have failed to build the basic infrastructure that is urgently needed by the residents.

Dedi added that this protest also serves as an ultimatum for elected members of the local council or prospective regional leaders who will run in the upcoming election. The elected members of the local council must be able to oversee regional development policies effectively. Prospective regional leaders also have to fulfill their political promises during their campaign.

Until now, East Lampung has been widely known as the place where motor vehicle thefts are rampant. However, the regency has a lot of natural potential in the agriculture, plantation, and livestock sectors. East Lampung also has Way Kambas National Park, which is an icon of Lampung as a place for conserving Sumatran elephants and Sumatran rhinos.

When confirmed, Regent of East Lampung Dawam Rahardjo said that he had directly visited the damaged road section in Sukadana District on Monday (22/4/2024) afternoon. While inspecting the road, he also met some residents who had created content on social media. Even so, Dawam said that some residents actually left when he arrived at the location. "As residents, it's okay to protest, as long as it's constructive," he said.

Dawam explained that this year's budget for infrastructure development in the region is prepared at Rp 121 billion. Several district roads, including in Sukadana District, will be built this year. Therefore, he asked the community to be patient because the allocation of regional expenditure budget takes time.

KOMPAS
After criticizing damaged roads in Lampung, Bima Yudho Saputro was reported to the police

He stated that the East Lampung Regional Budget, which reaches around IDR 2 trillion, is indeed mostly used for employee expenses. The local government also cannot do much development during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read: Bima's Criticism and Generation Z's Concern for Development

Editor:

IRMA TAMBUNAN

When Residents Choose to Protest Damaged Roads via Social Media

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