JurnalPost.com Leadership is not merely about one's ability to articulate a grand vision or make critical decisions. More importantly, it is the responsibility to ensure that every policy enacted truly brings change to people's lives. For the public, the success of a government is not measured by the number of programs announced, but by the tangible benefits they experience in their daily lives.
This issue becomes increasingly relevant as the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka enters its third year. On 20 October 2026, they marked exactly two years of leading Indonesia. This momentum should serve not only as an opportunity to showcase achievements but also as a space to evaluate the extent to which political promises have been fulfilled.
Over the past two years, the government has endeavored to implement various strategic agendas, ranging from improving public welfare, food security, and energy independence to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. While these programs are undoubtedly vital for national development, the scale of these goals does not automatically guarantee successful implementation.
This is where a leader's capability is truly tested. It is not enough for the government to have the courage to set targets; it must also ensure that these targets are realistic, measurable, and accountable to the public.
Grand Promises Must Be Followed by Mature Execution
One of the greatest challenges in governance is maintaining a balance between development ambitions and the state's capacity to fund them. Every program requires a budget, human resources, coordination, and clear oversight mechanisms.
The Free Nutritious Meal program is a case in point. According to data from the National Nutrition Agency on 20 October 2026, the program has reached approximately 57.49 million beneficiaries across Indonesia. This achievement indicates that the government has expanded the reach of one of its priority programs.
However, the sheer number of beneficiaries is not the only metric of success. Issues such as food security, food quality, oversight of catering kitchens, and budgetary sustainability must also receive serious attention.
In my view, even well-intentioned programs have the potential to cause problems if their implementation is not supported by adequate planning and oversight. The government must ensure that every rupiah spent truly generates benefits in line with the program's objectives.
The success of the MBG program, for instance, cannot be judged solely by the number of meals distributed. The government must also measure nutritional quality, food safety, targeting accuracy, and the impact on children's health and development.
This applies to other government programs as well. Development should not be judged merely by the size of the budget absorbed, but by the real changes produced. A large budget does not always equate to significant benefits if management is ineffective.
Cabinet Reshuffles Are No Guarantee of Improved Performance
Another issue requiring attention is consistency in governance. In October 2026, President Prabowo conducted another cabinet reshuffle, marking the seventh such change since the beginning of his term.
Replacing officials is a presidential prerogative and can be a necessary step to improve government performance. However, cabinet reshuffles should not stop at changing names or positions.
The public needs to know the reasons for these changes, the problems being addressed, and the expected outcomes from the newly appointed officials.
In my opinion, the measure of a successful cabinet reshuffle lies not in how many ministers are replaced, but in how far those changes improve the quality of public service.
Personnel changes must also not disrupt policy continuity. Well-planned programs must continue, while policies proven to have weaknesses should be improved based on objective evaluations.
In practice, governance issues often cannot be solved by a single ministry alone. Policies regarding education, health, the economy, and social protection require strong inter-agency coordination.
If every agency operates with its own interests and priorities without coordination, the public risks facing slow services, overlapping regulations, and poorly targeted programs.
Therefore, national leaders must be able to build a government that functions as a unified entity, rather than just a collection of officials with disparate authorities.
Public Criticism Must Serve as Evaluation Material
The success of leadership can also be seen in how the government builds relationships with the public, especially when facing criticism.
On 20 October 2026, coinciding with the two-year mark of the Prabowo-Gibran administration, demonstrations took place in several cities, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Bandung. Various demands were voiced, ranging from the cost of living and civil liberties to forest and land fire management and evaluations of government policy.
These events demonstrate that segments of the public still feel that certain issues have not been handled as they had hoped.
In a democracy, criticism should not be viewed merely as a form of opposition to the government. Criticism is a vital part of public participation in overseeing the exercise of power.
A strong leader is not one who always receives praise, but one who can face dissenting opinions openly and responsibly.
Listening to criticism does not mean the government must fulfill every demand. However, the government has an obligation to provide explanations, open spaces for dialogue, and make improvements if weaknesses in policy implementation are identified.
Such openness is essential so that the relationship between the government and the public is not built solely through one-way communication, but through a willingness to listen to one another.
Public Trust Must Be Proven Through Performance
The public's assessment of the government can also be gauged through various survey results.
A survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) in October 2026 showed that 47.7 percent of respondents believe Indonesia is moving in the right direction.
Meanwhile, a Poltracking Indonesia survey announced on 19 October 2026 recorded public trust in the Prabowo-Gibran administration at 64.8 percent.
Interestingly, the same Poltracking survey showed that the satisfaction rate with the government's performance stood at 55.3 percent.
This discrepancy is important to note. Trust in the government is not always synonymous with satisfaction with its results. One may have hope and trust in national leadership while simultaneously feeling dissatisfied with their current circumstances.
On the other hand, results from different survey institutions cannot be directly compared without considering the questions, methodologies, and indicators used.
For me, these figures should serve as material for evaluation, not merely as tools to reinforce claims of government success or failure.
Public trust is a vital asset in running a government. However, that asset must be maintained through consistent policies and development results that are increasingly felt by the public.
Leadership Requires Exemplary Conduct and Responsibility
There are several points that I believe the government needs to focus on to strengthen national leadership.
First, every policy must have clear and measurable targets. The government needs to establish success indicators, implementation timelines, and transparent evaluation mechanisms.
Second, the assessment of government officials must be based on competence, integrity, and work results. Public office is a responsibility to serve the people, not just a position that confers authority.
Third, inter-agency coordination must be strengthened so that policy implementation is not hindered by bureaucratic issues. The public needs services that are simple, fast, and reliable.
Fourth, the government must build honest public communication. When a program faces obstacles, the public has the right to receive an explanation regarding the causes and the corrective steps to be taken.
Beyond these four points, the exemplary conduct of leaders is equally important.
When the government calls on the public to obey the law, state officials must first demonstrate compliance with the rules. When the government asks for efficiency, the use of public funds must be carried out transparently and responsibly.
Likewise, when the government invites the public to participate in development, space for expressing opinions and criticism must be maintained.
Exemplary conduct is not built through speeches alone, but through the alignment of words and actions. The public will find it easier to trust the government if they see consistency in fulfilling responsibilities.
The People Need Proof, Not Just Promises
The two-year mark of the Prabowo-Gibran administration is an important moment to assess the trajectory of Indonesia's development. Various programs have been implemented, numerous policies have been announced, and changes in the government structure continue to be made.
However, the progress of the administration should not be judged solely by the activities carried out. The more important question is whether these policies have provided meaningful change to people's lives.
Is it becoming easier for people to find work? Are basic necessities becoming more affordable? Are education and health services improving? Do people feel protected by fair laws?
These questions serve as a measure closer to the lives of the people than mere achievement figures in government reports.
I believe that Indonesia needs leadership that is not only bold enough to articulate a grand vision but also possesses the ability to translate that vision into effective policy.
Leaders must be able to make decisions by considering the state's capacity, listening to public aspirations, evaluating shortcomings, and taking responsibility for every policy implemented.
Ultimately, the success of a leader is not determined by how often they make promises or how large the programs launched are. The success of leadership is evident when the public experiences real change in their lives.
Because while political promises may build hope, only results can sustain the people's trust.
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