Highlighting the Amsal Sitepu Case, Kemenko PM: A Stark Warning for the Future of Indonesia's Creative Economy Ecosystem
Jakarta, VIVA – The Ministry of Coordinating for Community Empowerment (Kemenko PM) has highlighted the legal case ensnaring Amsal Christy Sitepu, a creative worker in videography. This case is deemed a real threat to the continuity of the creative industry and the protection of content creator professions in Indonesia.
Deputy for Coordinating Community Economic Empowerment and Migrant Worker Protection at Kemenko PM, Leontinus Alpha Edison, stressed that Amsal represents millions of creative talents working to build the nation’s narrative through visuals. However, he has now become a victim of the legal system’s misunderstanding of the value of an idea and intellectual work.
“The corruption charges levelled against Mr Amsal, merely due to differing perceptions of professional service value, constitute a form of criminalisation that could extinguish the spark of innovation at the grassroots level,” stated Leontinus in his official remarks in Jakarta on Monday, 30 March 2026.
He argued that it is utterly unreasonable for work whose quality has been acknowledged by service users—in this case, village heads—to be valued at “zero rupiah” by administrative audits on crucial items such as concepts, editing, and dubbing. Yet, in the creative industry, these post-production elements are the heart of a product’s added value. Nullifying the cost of such services is tantamount to denying the dignity of the creator profession itself.
“Amsal is merely a professional service provider who submitted a transparent proposal according to his competence. It should be noted that he is not the budget authority holder with the power to determine state fund ceilings,” Leontinus added.
As a state organiser overseeing the creative economy sector, Kemenko PM affirmed that protecting industry actors is non-negotiable for the sustainability of the national economy.
Leontinus warned that if a creative worker like Amsal can be imprisoned merely due to rigid bureaucratic procedures in assessing aesthetic aspects, it will destroy public confidence in collaborations between the government and the creative community.
“We also extend our appreciation to the leadership of Commission III of the DPR RI, Mr Habiburokhman and Mr Kawendra, who have given special attention to the Amsal Sitepu case and served as a moral pillar for creative sector enthusiasts to remain consistent in their work without fear, as long as they stay within the proper framework,” Leontinus concluded.