KPAI Condemns Abu Janda's Abusive Language on National Television

Indonesia’s Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has expressed regret over a debate involving Permadi Arya, known as Abu Janda, with other panellists that included abusive language and profanity on national television.

Kawiyan, KPAI Commissioner for the Child Protection in Digital Spaces sub-cluster, deemed the incident occurring on iNews’s “Rakyat Bersuara” programme highly educationally inappropriate. He reminded iNews, as a broadcasting institution, that it must comply with Law No. 32 of 2002 on Broadcasting.

“What happened on iNews clearly contradicts the objectives of national broadcasting,” Kawiyan told Tempo on Friday, 13 March 2026.

The Broadcasting Law, in Article 3, establishes that broadcasting shall be conducted to strengthen national integration, develop the nation’s character and identity based on faith and piety, advance the nation’s intellectual life, promote public welfare in building an independent, democratic, just and prosperous society, and foster Indonesia’s broadcasting industry.

Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the law states that broadcasting as mass communication shall function as a medium for information, healthy entertainment, education, social control and social cohesion.

Kawiyan stated that television, which uses public radio frequency spectrum, should not broadcast content that damages public interest. Television has broad reach and is accessible to various age groups, including children.

“Although the ‘Rakyat Bersuara’ programme is not aired during children’s viewing hours, it is still quite possible to be watched by viewers still in the child category (under 18 years old) at home,” Kawiyan explained.

Therefore, he reminded that every broadcast programme must consider ethical values and propriety, and contemplate its impact on children’s growth and development. He stated that content containing abuse, insults and profanity clearly does not provide good examples and risks normalising unhealthy communication behaviour in public spaces.

Particularly given that the government is currently working to create a safer and healthier digital environment for children through the Government Regulation on Electronic System Management in Child Protection (PP TUNAS).

Most recently, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) issued Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which is a regulatory instrument under PP TUNAS. This regulation aims to protect children from exposure to negative content such as violence, pornography, hate speech and various forms of content inappropriate for children.

With the new regulation in place, Kawiyan stated that broadcasting institutions—both public and private—should be strategic partners with the government in building a healthy media ecosystem, rather than presenting shows that display uneducational verbal conflicts.

“Compared with social media or digital platforms, television has long been considered a trusted source of information by society, so the quality of broadcast content must be properly maintained,” he said.

KPAI also requested programme organisers to evaluate the format and management of discussions to prevent recurrence of coarse language or behaviour that diminishes others’ dignity in broadcast spaces. “I also call on the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission, as an independent state institution, to take measured steps against all broadcasting institutions that ignore principles contradicting the objectives of national broadcasting.”

Programme host Aiman Witjaksono of iNews Rakyat Bersuara revealed why he invited Permadi Arya, known as Abu Janda, to the programme, which subsequently sparked controversy.

“Why was Abu Janda invited even though he is not an expert? Because he has many followers on social media. And when that is not clarified, it can become wild information,” Aiman told Tempo. “Meanwhile, social media algorithms make the fanatic more fanatic and the haters more hateful.”

A video clip from the Rakyat Bersuara programme, produced by iNews TV on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, went viral on social media. Abu Janda, an influencer invited as a panellist, hurled insults at Indonesia’s former Ambassador to Tunisia Ikrar Nusa Bhakti and Constitutional Law Professor Feri Amsari of Andalas University. They were debating the United States-Israel war and Iran-Palestine relations.

Abu Janda initially raised the issue of many Indonesians holding anti-American sentiment without clear basis. He viewed the dislike of America as purely blind hatred.

However, he claimed, America played a major role in Indonesia’s independence. He asserted that the departure of the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) from Indonesia was partly due to American pressure.

“America had a huge role in our independence. People only remember 17 August. People forget that in 1945, the Dutch returned. They rode along with NICA forces to disarm Japanese troops,” he said.

Ikrar Nusa Bhakti then attempted to respond to Abu Janda’s statement regarding America’s involvement in the Round Table Conference of 1948–1949. Before Ikrar could explain, Abu Janda immediately cut him off and demanded that he stop speaking carelessly.

“Yes, you should also read history. Try reading the book Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia by George McTurnan Kahin,” Ikrar said. “It explains why America intervened. Because America feared Indonesia would fall into communist hands.”

Ikrar then asked Abu Janda not to hastily judge America as good for everything they do.

Nevertheless, Abu Janda again interrupted Ikrar’s remarks. He even made crude comments before being warned.