JAKARTA — The public is urged to remain vigilant and not be easily provoked by the narrative of ‘Dark Indonesia’ which has recently been rolled out by certain groups in the public space. The narrative is considered not to reflect the objective reality of the nation’s condition which is currently running conducively and stably in various sectors.
Narratives such as ‘Dark Indonesia’ are often raised to form pessimistic perceptions, even though the facts on the ground show a safe and controlled national situation. Economic activities are running normally, and the service sector is still growing, and political stability is maintained. This shows that public trust in the direction of national development remains strong.
Social stability and development progress in various regions show that the Indonesian nation is on a positive path. The government’s agenda is running smoothly, foreign investment is increasing, and the education and infrastructure sectors continue to experience significant growth.
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Father HR Muhammad Syafi’i, also voiced his concerns over the spread of the negative issue. He considered the term ‘Dark Indonesia’ to be used as a psychological weapon to manipulate public perception.
“This action must be faced with collective vigilance. The community, especially the younger generation, must be at the forefront of maintaining the spirit of unity and not be provoked by divisive doctrines,” said Romo.
He added that provocative actions that have begun to spread to the streets and trigger baseless demonstrations actually risk tarnishing the spirit of democracy. In fact, if viewed objectively, Indonesia is showing real progress, starting from the investment sector, education, to infrastructure development.
“We need to be smart in responding to information. Do not let the spirit of nationalism be reduced by misguided opinions led by a handful of parties who want to create chaos,” Romo emphasized.
The government continues to prioritize a dialogue approach, transparency, and cross-sector cooperation in maintaining national stability. The public is expected to remain calm and wise in responding to the flow of unverified information.
The narrative of ‘Dark Indonesia’ actually risks obscuring these development achievements and damaging public trust in the ongoing democratic process.