Riau government allots Rp 2.5b of public funds to journalists
Riau government allots Rp 2.5b of public funds to journalists
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Riau
The Riau provincial government has granted Rp 2.5 billion
(US$274,000) in the form of housing subsidies to local
journalists through their press associations in the province, a
senior local government official said on Wednesday.
The gifts have stirred controversy in the oil-rich province as
all journalist associations in the province, except for the
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), accepted the gift.
Riau administration spokesman Eddyusti denied allegations that
the gifts were linked to Governor Saleh Djasit's reelection bid.
"The grant was purely given on the grounds that the provincial
administration and journalists are truly working partners," said
Eddyusti on Wednesday.
He added that the housing subsidy would not affect the
journalists in carrying out their duties, claiming that the
provincial administration would still accept criticism from the
local press.
An estimated 191 journalists in the province will receive Rp
10 million each. They are obliged to use the money as a down
payment for the houses.
Those grouped under the Indonesian Journalist Association
(PWI), the PWI of Reform, the Alliance of Indonesian Democratic
Journalists (AWDI) and the Indonesian Independent Journalist
Association (PWII) were the beneficiaries of the administration's
benevolence.
A local executive of AJI said the organization's members would
not accept the gift for fear that it would affect their
impartiality when it comes to covering government affairs.
In addition, the gifts were a violation of the public's trust
(for an objective and independent press), said Akhmad Jamaan, an
AJI executive.
"The money came from Riau provincial budget, which means it
was the people's money," said Akhmad.
A media observer Marganti Manaloe lashed out at the provincial
government for misappropriating the provincial budget.
"Instead of providing the gift to journalists, the local
government should have channeled the funds to small-scale
entrepreneurs in the form of credits, so that it would help boost
development in Riau," said Manaloe, who is the chief editor of
Opsi Tabloid.
Manaloe suspected that the money was disbursed to win the
journalists' sympathy as part of the governor's campaign for
reelection next year.
He revealed that such practices were rampant in the province.
According to him, most weekly publications in the province
recently received government subsidies of Rp 150 million for each
media group.
Manaloe would not give details about the media that had
received the subsidy, which was given by local administration.
"This is stunning. It casts doubts on whether the local media
can now act as a credible opposition to the government," he said.
A local councillor J. Nadeak acknowledged that the local
council approved the government decision to grant the subsidy for
journalists.
He claimed it was the journalists who asked for the subsidy.
He admitted the gift would raise controversy.
"If the fund is approved and finally disbursed, it will
violate the press code of ethics. But if it is rejected by the
council, we will face resistance (criticism) from the
journalists," Nadeak said.