Minister of Law and Human Rights Asks Students to be Aware of Hoaxes Ahead of 2024 Elections

Menkumham Yasonna Laoly when giving a Guest Lecture for the State Defense Program at Brawijaya University, Malang City, East Java, Thursday (14/9/2023). BETWEEN/HO-Humas Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights East Java

MALANG - Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Yasonna Laoly asked students and the younger generation to be wary of the circulation of hoax information ahead of the 2024 General Election (Pemilu).

In a Guest Lecture on the National Defense Program in Malang City, East Java, Yasonna said that the circulation of hoax or untrue information had quite a large and damaging impact.

"It's okay to criticize the government, but it's constructive. However, don't make hoaxes, that's destructive, especially before an election like now," said Yasonna as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 14.

In order not to get caught up in hoax information, Yasonna asked students as intellectuals to be able to use logic and check if they get information that has negative value.

According to him, hoaxes are spread by irresponsible people and are believed by a group of people. Therefore, especially the younger generation should not easily believe if they receive information that divides unity.

"As students, you have to use logic, check, don't spread hoaxes easily. Don't easily believe them, especially those that divide the nation, identity politics, that's not good for the nation," he said.

Yasonna emphasized that Indonesia is a country with high diversity, which must be used as a model to strengthen unity. Criticism of the government may be done by presenting facts for future improvements.

"We are a very diverse nation, we must join hands. Criticism can be conveyed with facts in a proportional manner, and try to do good things that unite, not convey things that cause division," he said.

Brawijaya University students, he continued, are a selected young generation who have to compete fiercely to study at this university. Therefore, you must be able to convey information correctly, not spread hoaxes or incorrect information.

"You have to do your best to become leaders in the future. Spread kindness, not convey hoaxes. If there is criticism, of course there is no problem so that there can be improvements," he said.