Ummat Party Deems Removal of Amien Rais Video Illogical

The Ummat Party has criticised the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) for removing a video by the Chairman of the Ummat Party’s Shura Council, Amien Rais. They deem the policy to lack a clear basis and minimal scientific study.

Ummat Party General Chairman Ridho Rahmadi stated that the decision could potentially stir public unrest. “The policy itself is essentially a hoax, creating public unrest, and an indication of a government face that is anti-criticism,” said Ridho on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

Previously, in a video on his personal YouTube account, Amien Rais highlighted the relationship between Cabinet Secretary Minister Teddy Indra Wijaya and President Prabowo Subianto. He suspected that the relationship had exceeded professional boundaries.

In response to the video’s removal, Ridho deemed Komdigi’s response illogical. “There is a logical inconsistency in Komdigi’s response to Mr Amien Rais’s video about Cabinet Secretary Teddy,” he said.

Ridho also invited the public to reflect on the statement by Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid regarding the content. In an official statement, Komdigi described the video’s content as a hoax, slander, and containing hate speech.

Furthermore, the government assessed the narrative in the video as not fact-based, degrading the dignity of state leaders, and potentially provocative and divisive to society.

However, Ridho questioned the authority of the party entitled to determine a statement as a hoax or not. “Who has the right to conclude that a statement is a hoax, slander, or hate speech? Is it the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs or the ministry, and what is the basis or reference?” he said.

According to Ridho, determining truth in the digital space must not be based on the subjectivity of one party without adequate proof and validation processes.

“How great is the possibility of us getting trapped in subjectivity if truth is defined by one person or one ministry alone, without validation processes, scientific studies, or legal mechanisms,” he stated.

He assessed that Komdigi’s conclusion was premature and weak because it did not go through proper verification processes. “In short, the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs is turning allegations into conclusions,” said the data science doctorate from Radboud University, Netherlands.

Ridho also highlighted that the statement was issued in the name of the ministry, thus potentially becoming a public reference. “If so, wouldn’t that statement itself be considered a hoax, slander, or even provocation against Mr Amien?” he said.

Additionally, he criticised Komdigi’s step to cut access or take down the video. According to him, such action is a serious mistake because it is taken based on unverified conclusions.

“Censorship like this I fear will become the government’s body language that is anti-criticism and reluctant to dialogue. This is like taking Indonesia back to the era before the 1998 Reformasi,” said Ridho.

He emphasised that freedom of expression should be viewed as a right, not a threat. On the other hand, Ridho asked Komdigi to focus more on handling digital issues that directly impact society, such as the prevalence of pornography and online gambling that are still easily accessible.

“Komdigi certainly knows our digital traffic and various threats within it. But why does it seem selective, quick on this issue, but slow on other problems?” he said.