Legislators query new ministry<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
What's in a name? Lawmakers on Monday questioned the move by
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to create a new Ministry of
\nCommunications and Information.<\/p>\n
They fear the new ministry could become a powerful and
\nrepressive institution -- like its namesake under former
\npresident Soeharto -- which would undermine the hard-fought
\nfreedom of the press in the country.<\/p>\n
Abdillah Toha of the National Mandate Party (PAN) urged the
\nministry to provide the public with a detailed explanation about
\nthe new structure of the ministry.<\/p>\n
\"There must be clarity -- if the ministry will become a
\nministry of propaganda or a ministry which only follows the
\nguidelines of Mr. President,\" he said at a hearing between
\nMinister of Communications and Information Sofyan A. Djalil and
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for information
\naffairs here.<\/p>\n
Fellow legislator Shidki Wahab of the Democratic Party said he
\nwas worried the ministry would become more powerful than the
\nIndonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) when dealing with
\nbroadcasting affairs.<\/p>\n
The ministry and the KPI are currently engaged in a dispute
\nover which has the authority to issue broadcasting licenses.<\/p>\n
Last week's presidential decree upgrades the Office of the
\nState Minister of Communications and Information into a portfolio
\nministry that also absorbs the responsibilities of the
\nDirectorate General of Postal Affairs and Telecommunications. The
\ndirectorate was previously under the Ministry of Transportation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Arif Mudatsir Mandan of the United Development
\nParty (PPP) questioned the impact of the new structure on the
\nstate budget.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, the new structure affects the state budget. The
\ngovernment must give an explanation,\" Arif said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the questions, Sofyan A. Djalil assured the
\nCommission the new structure of his ministry would not revive the
\nrepressive ministry of information during the New Order regime.<\/p>\n
Sofyan emphasized that Suharto's ministry was established
\nduring an authoritarian regime, while the current body was set up
\nin a democratic era.<\/p>\n
He admitted his officials had been drafting a government
\nregulation that gave the ministry authority to issue broadcasting
\nlicenses.<\/p>\n
Sofyan, however, promised that he would be ready to seek a
\nlegal opinion from the Supreme Court concerning the issue.<\/p>\n
\"If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the KPI, we will abide
\nby that decision,\" Sofyan said.<\/p>\n
In addition, the minister said the government was considering
\nregulating fund-raising activities carried out by print and
\nbroadcasting media, especially in the aftermath of the tsunami
\ndisaster in Aceh and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The regulations would encourage fund-raisers to make
\ntransparent financial reports to the public, he said, which would
\nbe drawn up in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-query-new-ministry-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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