The central government cannot manage every aspect of government from Jakarta. The closer government is to citizens, the better positioned it is to understand and respond to their everyday needs. Local governments know better than Jakarta whether a particular village needs better roads, clean water, waste management, schools, health services, or other forms of basic infrastructure.

To counter the government’s foreign agent narrative, civil society organisations (CSOs) need to respond in a strategic manner. First, they should make transparency a top priority by making public the sources of their funding and allowing their activities to be checked by independent groups. This will preempt allegations of foreign influence. For example, CSO involved in past demonstrations, such as the 2019 protests, should publish verified donation reports.