Murdiyono : Policies Made Suddenly Make Things Difficult for the People

Dr. Ir. Murdiyono, MSi, member of the senate of Satyagama University and leacturer of Publik Policy

GEMARI.ID-JAKARTA. Some time ago, a member of the Satyagama University senate, Dr. Ir. Murdiyono, MSi, spoke to the gemari.id team in Jakarta about the current government. According to him, "If we look at our government's history, it has begun to change, from the Orde Baru to the Orde Reformasi to the current government led by President Prabowo Subianto." Indeed, if we compare, not all of the Orde Baru was bad, and not all of the Orde Reformasi was good. What does that mean? Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.  Monday (August 11, 2025).

He reminded us, that the Orde Baru Government was relatively well-organized from the beginning, and that's why there were long-term development plans (Pembangunan Jangka Panjang), medium-term development plans (Pembangunan Jangka Menengah), the State Guidelines for National Development (GBHN), and so on. But that's no longer the case. Furthermore, the current election system has its advantages and disadvantages. The downside is that it's very expensive to administer, which makes it difficult for the election committee.

However, the positive aspect is that it provides democratic freedom to the people, giving them the right to vote directly. It does have its drawbacks, as not everyone has the same educational background or the same knowledge. That needs to be re-evaluated, he said.

Dr. Ir. Murdiyono, MSi took a photo with several professor and members of the Satyagama University Senate

He further added, that many issues related to this government are now being addressed, including how to implement it within the legal framework. Sometimes, if our government leaders want to make policies according to their own wishes, they create regulations that support that direction. When we talk about public policy, these policies are often not based on adequate policy analysis.

Policies should be evidence-based, with data and support, so that the policies enacted are in the best interests of the people. Essentially, public policies provided by the government to the people are meant to improve their well-being. Moreover, if a policy suddenly ends up making things difficult for them, that means something is wrong, he added.

He reminded, the current government, as a former official at the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, that the government must be compliant with the prevailing situation and conditions in society when making policies. "We have the science of government, and within government, there are certainly policies, so they are based on evidence. Research must be conducted first; don't just make arbitrary decisions. That often happens, resulting in instant policies, which we sometimes see protests and immediate cancellations as soon as they are launched. This shows that the policy is inappropriate. If the policy is intended for the welfare of the people, there would be no protests," he explained.

On this occasion, the Public Policy lecturer explained the doctoral program in Government Science at Satyagama University. "I think government science at Satyagama University can be pushed further. Previously, the number of students was very high, but recently, it has decreased somewhat. Therefore, we must improve its quality, with the hope that Satyagama University can further develop." "All of us, including alumni, lecturers, and educational staff, can support Satyagama University's continued progress," his hope. @mulyono_dp