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Trust in President Jokowi's handling of pandemic falls: LSI survey
Fueled by the spread of the more virulent Delta variant, Indonesia has reported more new COVID-19 cases than any country in the world, according to the latest seven-day average from a Reuters data tracker. It was second only to Brazil in terms of the number of deaths.
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People take a selfie photo with effigies featuring President Joko Widodo (second right) and Minister of State-owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir (second left) after receiving a vaccine during a vaccination program for public workers and elderly organised by Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises (BUMN) in Jakarta on March 14, 2021. (AFP/Adek Berry)
T
rust in Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's ability to handle the pandemic has fallen sharply among the public, a public opinion survey showed, as authorities struggle to contain a wave of coronavirus infections that has pushed hospitals to breaking point.
Fueled by the spread of the more virulent Delta variant, Indonesia has reported more new COVID-19 cases than any country in the world, according to the latest seven-day average from a Reuters data tracker. It was second only to Brazil in terms of the number of deaths.
The opinion poll by The Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), which was conducted in late June before the worst of the current outbreak, showed trust that the president can handle the pandemic fell to 43 percent compared with 56.5 percent in a poll in February.
"Trust in the president's ability to overcome the pandemic declined steeply in the past four months," said Djayadi Hanan, LSI's executive director, adding trust in the government was important to enforce programmes such as vaccinations and movement curbs.
The findings of the survey, which covered 1,200 respondents, showed overall trust in the president's response still outweighed distrust with 22.6 percent not trusting his actions and 32 percent neutral.
Asked for comment on the survey, a spokesperson for the president said he has not studied the poll.
Elina Ciptadi, a risk communications specialist, said to win back trust the president should take on a direct role in communications to ensure uniform and fact-based messaging. "If government officials all say it's under control, but facts on the ground are that hospitals are overloaded and people get turned down, they lose credibility," she said.
Read also: Jokowi faces rumblings of discontent as pandemic crisis deepens
The Indonesian government imposed its strictest measures to contain the virus on July 3 and the government is considering whether to extend them when they expire on Tuesday.
Authorities have also called on people in the world's largest Muslim-majority country not to gather in crowds to celebrate the Idul Adha festival on Tuesday, when Muslims slaughter animals and share the meat among family and the poor
