Govt to toughen stance on raunchy ads

Govt to toughen stance on raunchy ads

JAKARTA (JP): The government will clamp down on "sexist and immoral" television commercials which it says "poison" the rural population, Antara reported.

Minister of Information Harmoko promised on Saturday to tell managers of private television stations to be more careful when selecting commercials to be broadcast.

"They should not allow commercials to ruin people's morality," he said. "There are rules that should be adhered to".

The minister, however, had an easy solution to the grievance. "The answer is your finger," he said. "As soon as you see an immoral program, turn the TV set off."

Harmoko was responding to complaints aired by ulemas he met during his safari, which he annually conducts during the fasting month of Ramadhan, in Purwakarta, West Java. One of the ulemas protested against a commercial which displayed women's thighs.

"It's good that we have fast access to information through the electronic media now," the ulema said. "But television stations often broadcast commercials which are not suitable for the rural folks, and which may have a negative impact on the younger generation".

"One second we see a commercial for nutritional supplements, the next, we are forced to endure the sight of a women's thighs," the ulemas said.

Complaints about television commercials tend to come and go, but never completely stop.

Consumer groups, for instance, have often protested commercials which exploit children, or ones for beer or cigarettes. A few years ago, the Ministry of Health protested against "irrational" commercials for over-the-counter drugs.

One of the latest complaints from the public was over a commercial of a beverage, which consists of coffee and milk, which featured a woman's breasts. The commercial disappeared a few days after it was first screened. (swe)