The Coordinating Body of Parliamentary Journalists (KWP) has\ncondemned a statement by House of Representatives Commission III member\nand Democratic Party Deputy Chairman Benny K Harman, who asked a\njournalist \u2018do you have a brain\u2019. KWP assessed the remark as demeaning\nto the journalistic profession.<\/p>\n
The statement was made during an interview with journalists at the\nParliament building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (11\/8\/2026),\nregarding the attendance of the 6th President of Indonesia, Susilo\nBambang Yudhoyono (SBY), at the Annual Session on 14 August 2026 and the\nindependence day ceremony at the palace. Benny responded that SBY was\ncurrently abroad.<\/p>\n
\u2018He (SBY) is having a check-up in America. He is having a check-up in\nAmerica,\u2019 Benny said in response to a question about SBY\u2019s attendance.\n\u2018Until when?\u2019 a journalist asked. \u2018End of the month,\u2019 Benny replied. \u2018So\n(SBY) will not attend on 17 August, Sir?\u2019 the journalist asked. \u2018If he\nis there, how can he attend,\u2019 Benny answered.<\/p>\n
The journalist then attempted to confirm SBY\u2019s attendance again.\nHowever, Benny felt the question was being repeated. \u2018Oh, so he will not\nattend either at the Palace or the Annual Session?\u2019 the journalist asked\nto confirm. \u2018Hey, do you have a brain? I have explained it. Yes, right.\nIf he is having a check-up there until the end of the month, why are you\nasking again? Many journalists are strange these days,\u2019 Benny\nreplied.<\/p>\n
KWP Deputy Coordinator Erwin Siregar regretted Benny\u2019s statement. He\nconsidered it demeaning to journalists. \u2018We regret and condemn the\ndemeaning statement from Mr Benny K Harman,\u2019 Erwin said in a statement\non Tuesday (11\/8). According to him, the journalist\u2019s question was part\nof journalistic duty. This includes when journalists reconfirm\ninformation that has been previously conveyed. \u2018He should have answered\npolitely because the media also asked politely. If the media asks\nrepeatedly, it is necessary for reconfirmation,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Erwin stated that journalists have an interest in ensuring the\ninformation conveyed is clear. Therefore, he said, follow-up questions\nshould not be considered a form of inability to understand the source\u2019s\nexplanation. \u2018We ask Mr Benny K Harman to personally apologise to the\njournalist concerned and also to the public,\u2019 Erwin stressed. \u2018If there\nis no apology, we will report this matter to the House Ethics Council\n(MKD),\u2019 Erwin added.<\/p>\n
Benny K Harman later conveyed an apology for his statement. Benny\nadmitted his remarks had offended the journalist. \u2018Earlier, friends\nasked again, does the 6th President, Mr SBY, attend or not? If he is\nthere until the end of the month, then automatically he cannot attend,\nright?\u2019 Benny said at the Parliament building, Senayan, Jakarta, on\nTuesday (11\/8). \u2018That should have been settled, but then it was\nrepeated. I said, when asking, use your brain a little, journalist.\nDon\u2019t ask again after it\u2019s been answered,\u2019 he continued. Benny claimed\nhe had no ill intent with his statement. \u2018But that is not the context.\nSo I apologise if anyone felt offended, but there was nothing more to\nit, that was not the main issue,\u2019 he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/benny-k-harman-apologises-after-do-you-have-a-brain-remark-to-journalist-1786442120", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }