Controversy widens over information ministry revival
JAKARTA (JP): The reported plan to revive the information ministry, which was dissolved in 1999 by former president Abdurrahman Wahid, was the target of increasing opposition from various parties on Thursday.
Bachtiar Chamsyah, deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction at the House of Representatives, said it was no longer urgent for the new government to revive the dissolved ministry because there have been hundreds of newspapers, weeklies and TV stations established, which are ready to help promote its development programs.
"It would be ineffective and inefficient for the government as the ministry's main tasks can be handled by the print and electronic media. Furthermore, our mass media is still haunted by former president Soeharto's repressive government which authorized the ministry to strictly limit press freedom through, among others things, the banning of several print media publications," he said on Thursday.
According to Bachtiar, the government should maintain freedom of the press by allowing the mass media to help control itself in the future.
Alexander Rusli, an information technology expert from the University of Indonesia, shared Bachtiar's sentiment, suggesting that, "establishing such a ministry would be wasting money and energy because the ministry will only be used by certain parties as a financial source for their idle projects."
The plan to revive the information ministry was revealed recently by Arifin Panigoro, chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the House of Representatives (DPR).
Arifin said the ministry should be reestablished to meet the challenges of information technology, as well as to convey government policy.
An executive of the Association of Indonesian Private Radio Stations (PRSSNI) said that the plan to revive the ministry and change its name to the ministry of information technology contravened the Constitution because it could be used to control the existing media.
"Instead of reviving the ministry, the government can empower the National Information Agency (LIN) to promote its programs to the public," Antara quoted PRSSNI chairman Soetoyo Soekamihardjo as saying.
In Semarang, Central Java, about 50 journalists and activists staged a rally, protesting the planned revival of the information ministry.
"Our objection to the plan is aimed at upholding democracy in the country," Ecep, one of the protesters, said.
In Surabaya, East Java, around 30 journalists staged a similar rally for the same reason. The protesters said they rejected any form of limitations on press freedom.
The protesters unfurled banners reading Tolak belenggu kebebasan pers (Reject restrictions on press freedom) and Deppen tak punya hak hidup (the information ministry has no right to exist).
Despite the opposition, however, Rachmat Kosasih, a consulting director of Computer Associates (CA), urged the government to establish a ministry dealing with information technology affairs, including protection of the booming software industry.
"The presence of such a ministry is extremely necessary now because Indonesia should catch up with other countries, such as India, the United States and Japan, that have successfully developed information technology," he said. (rms/har/nur)