Ishadi replaced as director general

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Information's director general for radio, television and film, Ishadi SK, was formally replaced on Wednesday with Azis Husain, who is also the director of state television station TVRI.

Ishadi, known among many television figures as a resourceful and creative bureaucrat, held his post for less than five months. He was installed on May 15 by the then information minister, Alwi Dahlan. "I take this decision as a gift from God," he told journalists after handing over his post to Azis.

Minister of Information M. Yunus installed Ishadi's successor.

"It's a normal replacement," Yunus said after swearing in the new bureaucrat. However, the replacement was considered controversial as Ishadi's capabilities had been much acclaimed.

Renowned writer and television critic Arswendo Atmowiloto said the decision to replace Ishadi was unwise given Ishadi's "high intellectuality and professionalism".

"It's a major step back for the ministry, known so far as a proreform ministry," he was quoted by the Media Indonesia daily on Tuesday.

Born in the South Sulawesi town of Majene, Ishadi, 56, shot to prominence when he was the station head of TVRI Yogyakarta (1985- 1987). While there, he introduced programs many acclaimed as offering rich local color that most national TV programs were considered to be lacking.

From 1987 to 1992, Ishadi was promoted to TVRI director -- a position which Azis took over in 1992 after Ishadi was replaced, reportedly following his criticism against the private TPI television station owned by former president Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

However, Ishadi returned to TPI as operations director from 1996 to 1998 before being promoted to director general at the Ministry of Information. "After this, I am going back to campus (teaching)," Ishadi said on Wednesday. (aan)