Yusril: Anti-Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda Bill does not Weaken Democracy

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the Draft Law (RUU) on Combating Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda will not weaken democratic practices.

Yusril explained that the bill would focus on countering disinformation from foreign parties that could potentially harm national interests.

"Let's not think of this as an effort to weaken democracy, no. Our democracy is strengthened in the midst of our community, only disinformation, let alone foreign propaganda, it is indeed necessary for us to fight together," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 22.

Currently, the government is still in the stage of preparing discussions and gathering multi-party opinions. According to Yusril, there is no concrete draft bill, the academic script has not been submitted to the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR).

"Not yet (submitted to the DPR) is still in the stage of our discussions to gather thoughts, because in order to make it a plan for the formation of a law, it still requires discussion with the DPR's Baleg (Legislative Agency)," he said.

However, he hopes that all parties will agree that this bill is important for Indonesia's interests. Because, said Yusril, propaganda often occurs in the current international political maneuvering.

"It is not uncommon for a country to accuse another country, from the top leadership to the people: do this, do this, which is actually propaganda disinformation from foreign parties and I think we have to curb it and we have to face it," he said.

He also gave an example of foreign propaganda that hit Indonesia in the 1970s. Yusril told the story that there was propaganda related to the dangers of coconut oil, even though Indonesia was rich in that plant.

He assessed that the narrative was propaganda from foreign parties who wanted to advance their corn or soybean oil industries.

"Then, we plant oil palm and Indonesia becomes the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. Again, propaganda, palm oil is like this; it is foreign disinformation and we say 'Oh yes, yes', instead we become an extension of foreign parties for their interests and damage our own national interests," he said.

According to Yusril, such narratives must be wary. Indonesia, he emphasized, must safeguard national interests.