Public Communication Conflicts Between the Central Government and the DKI Jakarta Government in Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Since it was announced that there was the first Covid-19 case on March 2, 2020, Indonesia is currently entering its 7th month. The number of cases continues to increase eventhough various restriction policies to prevent transmission have been implemented. For more than one semester there has been no policy that is felt to be effectively integrated between the central government and local government especially the capital city of Jakarta (DKI Jakarta). There are always criticism and differences, including how to communicate the policy to the public. The aim of this study to examine the effectiveness of large-scale social restrictions (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar/PSBB) in DKI Jakarta which are always considered to be against the central government. The data was collected from Instagram (IG) during the first PSBB policy on mid-March 2020 until the PSBB policy is tightened again in mid-September 2020. By using social network analysis (SNA), it shows who the actors and their relations with the PSBB. Interestingly, although it seems contested, there are also evaluations and negosiations between the central government and DKI Jakarta government even though implicitly. As a result, conflict that often arise, even if only in terms of communicating policy, that has the potential to reduce effectiveness and public trust.