Syahganda Nainggolan Named New Government Communications Chief

Syahganda Nainggolan Takes Charge of Indonesia’s Government Communications Agency

Tempatdonasi.com – President Prabowo Subianto has installed activist and political analyst Syahganda Nainggolan as the new head of Indonesia’s Government Communications Agency, known as Bakom, placing him at the helm of an institution responsible for government communications.

Fadli Tri Hartono was inaugurated alongside Syahganda as deputy head of the agency during a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday. Their appointments were formalized through Presidential Decree No. 106/P of 2026, issued in Jakarta on October 1, 2026.

The leadership change gives Bakom a new top team at a time when clear public communication remains an important part of government administration. The agency’s leadership is expected to carry out its responsibilities within the broader framework of state policy and public service.

Oath of office at the State Palace

At the inauguration, Syahganda and Fadli took the oath required of senior state officials. They pledged loyalty to the 1945 Constitution and committed themselves to carrying out their assignments in line with Indonesia’s laws and regulations.

They pledged allegiance to the 1945 Constitution and promised to uphold all laws and regulations in carrying out their duties in service to the nation and state.

The officials also pledged to observe professional ethics and to fulfill their responsibilities to the best of their ability. Such oaths are a formal part of the transition into government office, affirming both constitutional obligations and accountability in public service.

Following the oath-taking, the appointees signed the inauguration documents before President Prabowo. The president then signed the documents, completing the formal appointment process. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming and other officials present at the ceremony offered their congratulations individually.

Transition at Bakom

Syahganda succeeds Muhammad Qodari as Bakom chief. Qodari is moving to a new role within the Presidential Advisory Council, or Wantimpres, where he has been appointed secretary and member under a separate presidential decree.

The change marks a shift in responsibilities for Qodari, whose new post places him within the body that provides advice and considerations to the president. His departure from Bakom also opens a new chapter for the communications agency under Syahganda’s leadership.

As head of Bakom, Syahganda will lead an agency whose work is closely connected to how government information is communicated to the public. The appointment of a deputy head at the same time establishes the agency’s senior leadership structure from the outset of the transition.

Syahganda’s background as an activist and political analyst brings experience from outside the formal bureaucracy to the position. The announcement did not detail specific policy priorities for Bakom under the new leadership, but the inauguration confirms that the agency now has a new head and deputy head in place.

New appointments to the Presidential Advisory Council

The State Palace ceremony also included the inauguration of Wantimpres members through Presidential Decree No. 107/P of 2026. Prabowo appointed Pratikno as chair and member of the council, while Muhammad Hatta Rajasa was named deputy chair and member.

Qodari was appointed as secretary and member of the council, adding the role to the series of appointments announced during the event.

Other members include Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Muhammad Quraish Shihab, Agum Gumelar, Chairul Tanjung, Said Aqil Siradj, and Rocky Gerung. Wantimpres has 24 members in total.

The broad composition of the council brings together figures known from public life, religious leadership, business, political affairs, and other national activities. With Pratikno as chair and Hatta Rajasa as deputy chair, the body has a defined leadership arrangement alongside its wider membership.

Why the appointments matter

The concurrent appointments highlight two distinct parts of the presidential administration. Bakom is focused on government communications, while Wantimpres serves as the Presidential Advisory Council. Moving Qodari from the communications agency to the advisory council links the day’s personnel changes while assigning each institution its own leadership structure.

For the public, the announcement clarifies who will occupy several prominent government posts: Syahganda will head Bakom, Fadli will serve as deputy head, Pratikno will lead Wantimpres, and Hatta Rajasa will act as deputy chair. Qodari will take on the secretary and member role within the council.

All of the appointments took effect through presidential decrees issued in 2026, with the Bakom decree dated October 1. The inauguration at the State Palace provided the formal confirmation of the new officials’ duties and their commitments to uphold the Constitution, the law, professional standards, and responsibility to the state.