Deliberation of broadcasting bill underway
JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives began deliberating the long-awaited bill on radio and television broadcasting yesterday.
In the first stage of the law-making process, Minister of Information Harmoko presented the government's views on the bill before a plenary meeting at the House.
The future law, which consists of 58 articles, aims at setting clear regulations for radio and TV stations in the wake of technological developments and the free global flow of information.
"A strong legal basis is needed to make sure that Indonesia can make the best use of the positive effects and avoid the negative impact (of the information)," he told a plenary session in the House.
The public has been given until August to contribute ideas to the government-sponsored bill.
Controversy is brewing around the government's insistence on dubbing foreign language programs, in the hope that it will boost the viewers' love of and ability to use the Indonesian language.
Religious programs, language lessons and programs for international broadcasting purposes are exempted from the rule.
Critics say that programs in English must not be dubbed because Indonesians need to learn that internationally recognized language from them. In addition, the critics claim, dubbing does not guarantee that people will speak Indonesian better.
The law will reportedly end the state-owned television station TVRI's and radio station RRI's much-criticized monopoly in news broadcasts. It is expected to legalize news programs broadcasted by private stations.
Currently, private TV and radio stations are required to relay news broadcasts from the government-owned stations. However, all five private TV stations also air their own news broadcasts.
Harmoko said, however, news to be aired by privately owned television and radio stations are subject to government censorship.
"Private networks should get the government's permit before producing their own news, because news has a great and direct impact on the public," Harmoko said.
He argued that the making of "good" news requires certain requirements that not all TV and radio stations can meet.
The bill requires all television stations to slash their foreign programs to 20 percent of total air time. Eighty percent of their broadcasts should be locally made.
The government argues that locally-produced programs must dominate the air time, otherwise local TV stations will become mere trumpets of foreign interests.
"Foreign programs should be carefully selected so that they will not harm Indonesian values, national interests and not upset relations with other countries," Harmoko said.
The future law also regulates advertisements on TV and radio.
On a separate occasion yesterday, Director General for Radio, Television and Film Dewabrata rejected a proposal that private TV stations be allowed to advertise political parties' programs.
"The existing regulations do not allow it," he told reporters.
The suggestion for the government to allow TV stations to advertise political programs was made last week by Fahmi Alatas, a senior executive of the ruling Golkar party.
Alatas argued that the practice is commonplace in the West, notably in the U.S.
Dewabrata said that instead, TV stations will be allowed to allocate special time for political parties to contest in next year's election to present their programs, but not in the form of advertisements. (31)
Dubbing -- Page 2
Editorial -- Page 4