Pandji Pragiwaksono Clarifies Allegations of Customary Sanctions After Addressing Toraja

JAKARTA — Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono has finally clarified the rumors surrounding customary sanctions that have been widely discussed after his stand-up comedy was deemed offensive to the Torajan people.

Pandji emphasized that the information about him having to pay a fine of 96 buffaloes and a sum of money is inaccurate.

He explained that he had been in dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), represented by its Secretary General, Rukka Sombolinggi—who is also from Toraja.

According to Rukka, the determination of customary sanctions must go through a dialogue process with representatives from all 32 Torajan customary regions, and to date, this process has not been carried out.

"It's not just not final. According to Mrs. Rukka Sombolinggi—and this can be checked directly with her—the information is inaccurate. It's not final, but inaccurate," said Pandji Pragiwaksono in South Jakarta on Thursday, November 13.

Pandji added that Torajan society generally does not impose punishments. If he makes a donation, it is purely a personal initiative as a form of goodwill.

"The possibility of a donation being made seems more like a good initiative that I want to give as a symbol that I want this relationship to continue well," he explained.

"I entrust everything to Mrs. Rukka Sombolinggi from AMAN," he concluded.