PDIP's Said Shocked by Amien Rais's Statement: Apology Won't Lower One's Status
“Yes, I was also shocked by Mr Amien Rais’s statement. As a figure we know. From an ethical perspective, we really shouldn’t allow private matters to become public discourse. Whoever we are,” said Said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday (4/5/2026).
Said alluded to ethics regarding statements that intrude into someone’s private space. “In any country, it would be the same. It should be avoided. It’s not just improper; ethically, it’s not allowed, it doesn’t permit us to enter private spaces,” he stated.
Said said Komdigi must indeed take down Amien Rais’s content. He stated that content like Amien Rais’s should not become public discourse.
“Yes, Komdigi is obliged to take it down. Because it can’t be left alone. Komdigi must not allow private matters, the private realm of public officials, to become discourse. Because that would just become public information rubbish,” he continued.
Said said there was no harm if Amien Rais apologised. In his view, an apology would not lower someone’s status.
“In my opinion, I want to place Mr Amien Rais as a national figure. As a national figure, right or wrong, conveying good things or suddenly slipping up, or let’s say making a mistake, and then apologising, that won’t lower someone’s stature as a figure,” he explained.
Recently, the public has been buzzing with a video uploaded by Amien Rais on his YouTube channel regarding the closeness between President Prabowo Subianto and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid even spoke out, calling the video uploaded by Amien Rais character assassination and slander.
“The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has identified the spread of a video containing slanderous narratives, character assassination, and personal attacks directed at the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The video was uploaded by the Chairman of the Shura Council of the Ummah Party,” said Meutya in an Instagram post @kemkomdigi on Saturday (2/5).
Amien Rais’s Words
Amien Rais responded to Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid who called his statement slander. Amien Rais said freedom of opinion is regulated by law.
“Well, so I’m like this. First, I’m certainly convinced that democracy runs well if the freedom to express opinions guaranteed by our constitution is not restricted or suppressed,” said Amien when met after the Ummah Party National Congress in Sleman, as reported by detikJogja on Sunday (3/5).
According to him, Indonesia is a democratic country, so every individual is free to express opinions. Even if, said Amien Rais, it contradicts the authorities and other groups of people.
“Well, then, in a democratic country, people are allowed to express opinions. Contradicting the official authorities, contradicting other groups of people and so on. But what, the point of conflict, the point of difference, is that it concerns the fate of the nation,” he said.