Coordinating Minister Cak Imin on Ideas and Editing Valued at Rp 0 in Amsal Sitepu Case: Killing Creativity

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has criticised the prosecutor’s perspective on the creative work of videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu, who is on trial in the corruption case involving a village profile video project in Karo Regency during 2020-2022. “The creative process is the lifeblood of the creative industry; it should be appreciated for its expertise, not dismissed in value or even criminalised. If ideas, concepts, and the creative process are valued at Rp0, that is not just wrong; it is dangerous. It is tantamount to killing creativity,” said Cak Imin, the familiar name for Muhaimin Iskandar, in Jakarta on Monday. According to him, the prosecutor’s assessment of ideas, concepts, editing processes, and dubbing as having “no value” or merely Rp0 is a misguided and perilous approach for the future of Indonesia’s creative economy. He stated that in the creative industry, the core value lies in the process, from research and idea exploration to production and execution, which cannot be measured by conventional methods. Furthermore, Cak Imin is concerned that this perspective in the case could have systemic impacts, including on the world of education. “We must not allow our universities to lose interest in teaching creativity because it is seen as valueless. If creativity is valued at zero, who would want to learn or create?” he said. According to him, millions of Indonesians currently make a living from the creative economy sector, from content creators and videographers to editors, designers, and other creative workers who depend on ideas and works for their sustenance. Cak Imin emphasised that the creative economy sector is currently becoming a new engine for Indonesia’s economic growth. “The Prabowo administration is committed to empowering the creative industry ecosystem by protecting and appreciating creative workers. We must not let inappropriate approaches cause creators to fear producing works and lose their enthusiasm,” he said. He also stressed that the creative economy is one of the main strengths for community empowerment and Indonesia’s future economic growth. “If we want the creative economy to grow, we must start from the basics: acknowledging that creativity has value. Not zero, but as the foundation,” said Cak Imin.