The Constitutional Law Society (CLS) of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), in collaboration with RRI Yogyakarta, organized a legal outreach session addressing the ethics and morality of public officials in communicating within the public sphere, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The session featured two speakers: Dr. Hendry Julian Noor, S.H., M.Kn., an academic in State Administrative Law (HAN), and Fakhrul Haholongan Pulungan, a law student and observer of constitutional law.
The session addressed the question of how state officials should conduct public communication responsibly within the framework of a constitutional state and democracy. In a broader context, public communication by state officials constitutes an important dimension of democratic governance. This is because individuals holding public office are also regarded as representatives of an institution. As a result, statements made by a person in their capacity as a public official may be perceived as representing the institution they lead. This makes ethics, propriety, and accountability in public communication an integral part of the conduct of governance.
During the session, participants were invited to understand that the communication of public officials is also bound up with the constitutional and ethical responsibilities that accompany public office. Issues such as defensive responses to criticism, the dissemination of inaccurate information, and statements made without adequate regard for their social context can affect the relationship between government and society. On this basis, public communication must be positioned as part of the effort to build trust and maintain the quality of democratic life.
One of the session's central topics was the concept of constitutional ethics. Understood as the set of moral values guiding state administrators in the exercise of their constitutional powers. Jimly Asshiddiqie's concept of constitutional ethics positions ethical norms as an essential component of national life, alongside legal and religious norms. This framework is also connected to MPR Decree No. VI/MPR/2001 on the Ethics of National Life, which emphasizes the importance of honesty, trustworthiness, and accountability in the conduct of governance. The discussion was further developed through a number of case studies on public official communications that have generated public debate, including statements on sexual violence during the May 1998 events, the use of the term "londo ireng" in President Prabowo Subianto's speech, and statements regarding allegations of subversion and terrorism in the context of demonstrations. These cases were used as material for discussing the boundaries between a public official's freedom of communication, official accountability, citizens' right to express criticism, and the state's obligation to preserve democratic space.
Through this session, participants came to understand that the public also has an important role in overseeing the communications of public officials. The capacity of citizens to distinguish between legitimate criticism, accountable information, and statements that have the potential to generate misunderstanding constitutes part of the strengthening of legal and constitutional literacy. At the same time, public officials are expected to respond to criticism openly, proportionately, and in a manner consistent with their office.
The session also has direct relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The strengthening of understanding of constitutional ethics and public communication contributes to the creation of accountable, transparent, and publicly responsive institutions. The session also supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through the improvement of citizens' capacity to understand their rights, voice criticism, and exercise oversight over the conduct of governance.
Author : Aditya Putra Bintara (Tim Penerima Hibah)
