Djamari: Indonesia Cannot Hand Its Digital Space to Pessimists

Indonesia’s government must gain control of the digital space because it has become a major arena for shaping public opinion and national character, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago said.

Speaking at a public-relations coordination forum in Central Jakarta, Djamari compared the digital arena to Padang Kurusetra, a vast battlefield from the Mahabharata tradition. Whoever controls it, he said, can win the “battle,” while leaving it to others could allow them to pursue their own aims.

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The digital arena is very strategic. I compare it to Padang Kurusetra, or a very large battlefield. I also describe digital space as a field of criticism. Whoever can control it will win the battle. If we do not control it, someone else will, with a certain aim.

The forum, organized by the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, sought to align government messaging and improve coordination across sectors. It focused on managing public communications as disinformation, defamation and hate speech spread online.

Djamari said social media carries negative narratives, abusive language and indecent content that could affect how people think and act. He linked repeated behavior to the formation of character, warning that Indonesia should not become weak, easily discouraged and pessimistic. “We cannot hand this country over to pessimists,” he said.

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Social media greatly influences people’s minds. What is in the mind affects what we do, and what we repeatedly do shapes character. We must not become careless and allow the character of this nation to become weak, easily discouraged and pessimistic. We cannot hand this country over to pessimists.