Menbud At HPN 2025: The Press Is A Fighter In Every Age

Menbud Fadli Zon (Central PWI Doc)

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, said that the history of the nation's press and culture has its obligations. He said this while attending the peak event of National Press Day in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan.

Fadli said that journalists' lives always intersect with cultural arts.

"Many national press figures also work in the field of cultural arts," said quoting ANTARA on Sunday, February 9.

According to him, what has been reflected in the press world so far, is then stated in works in the field of arts or culture.

He mentioned several national press figures, such as Djamaluddin Adinegoro, a journalist and writer who was awarded the title of Perintis Pers Indonesia.

Then, Mochtar Lubis, an Indonesian journalist and novelist who co-founded Indonesia Raya and the monthly literary magazine Horison.

In fact, Mochtar has been jailed several times for criticizing President Soekarno and President Suharto through his journalistic work.

"So, a journalist from the beginning was actually a fighter at all times, defending the public interest in policies that did not side with the people," said Fadli Zon.

Likewise, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) was formed on February 9, 1946, at that time it symbolized the togetherness and integrity of journalists to defend the sovereignty and honor of the state.

Until finally, on January 23, 1985 President Soeharto set National Press Day through Presidential Decree Number 5 of 1985 adopted from the birthday of PWI, February 9.

Fadli Zon representing President Prabowo Subianto was the guest of honor at the peak of the 2025 HPN commemoration with the host South Kalimantan.

More than two thousand journalists were present from all over the country with the same spirit to strengthen the role of the press in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty to realize the welfare of the people.