Aceh – Indonesia, Chairman of the Unsyiah Communication Science Alumni (IKASI), Teuku Wahidoel, has questioned the boundaries of authority for the Aceh Government Spokesperson when delivering statements to the public, particularly regarding government policy and relations between the Aceh Government and the central government.
According to Teuku Wahidoel, from a government communication perspective, a spokesperson serves as an integral instrument of official government messaging. Therefore, every statement issued to the public must rest on a clear foundation and reflect the official stance of the regional head or the government they represent.
“The question is simple: does every statement from the Aceh Government spokesperson represent the voice and direction of the Governor of Aceh? Or do some statements reflect the spokesperson’s personal views? This must be clear, as the public will naturally perceive whatever the spokesperson says as the official stance of the Aceh Government,” Teuku Wahidoel stated on Monday (10/5/2026).
He emphasized that a spokesperson must not assume, or appear to assume, authority that rightfully belongs to the Governor of Aceh.
“The spokesperson must not exceed their authority. If the statement indeed reflects the Governor’s position, there is certainly no issue. However, if the Governor has never expressed such a stance, then we must question on what grounds the spokesperson made the statement,” he stressed.
According to Teuku Wahidoel, if the Aceh Government faces issues with the performance of a task force or institution that is deemed ineffective and potentially harmful to the people of Aceh, standard governmental mechanisms should still be prioritized.
“If the Task Force’s work is considered poor or detrimental to the people of Aceh, convey the issue directly to the Governor. Support it with data and facts. The Governor can then issue an official reprimand. If deemed necessary, the Governor may request an evaluation or even a replacement of the Task Force. That is the proper mechanism,” he said.
He believes that the spokesperson’s primary function should be to act as a communication bridge between the government and the public, rather than usurping decision-making authority.
“A spokesperson communicates; they do not decide. If there is a problem, report it to the Governor. If a policy path must be taken, let the Governor make the decision. Once that decision is made, the spokesperson conveys it to the public,” Teuku Wahidoel added.
In the context of government communication, he continued, clarity regarding the source of the message is vital. The public must be able to distinguish between the official stance of the Aceh Government and the personal opinions of officials.
“If the Governor never said such a thing and never gave such directions, yet the spokesperson delivers statements as if they represent the Aceh Government’s official stance, it can lead to communication issues. The public could easily misunderstand the government’s official position,” he explained.
Teuku Wahidoel also reminded that official government communication carries far different consequences than personal statements. Any statement coming from a spokesperson remains attached to the institution they represent.
“Because they speak on behalf of the Aceh Government, every statement must be measured, data-driven, and backed by a clear mandate. We must prevent a situation where the public finds it difficult to differentiate between the Governor’s voice, the Aceh Government’s position, and the spokesperson’s personal opinion,” he stated.
He called on the Governor of Aceh, Muzakir Manaf (popularly known as Mualem), to ensure that government communication mechanisms run clearly, including defining the boundaries of the spokesperson’s duties and powers.
“This is not about personal feelings or whether someone likes the spokesperson or not. It is a matter of governmental communication governance. The Governor must ensure that the spokesperson works strictly as an official messenger for the government and does not stray from the mandate given,” Teuku Wahidoel emphasized.
According to him, if any spokesperson statements are found to be inconsistent with the Governor’s directives or stance, an internal evaluation must be conducted to prevent further communication confusion.
“If the Governor never actually spoke like that, the spokesperson must not speak as if representing the Governor. The limits of authority must be clear. The spokesperson should not act as a ‘shadow governor,’” Teuku Wahidoel concluded.(rao)