Considered Harassing Kiai Lirboyo, PKB Ready To Deploy Student Demonstration Of Private TV Offices

General Treasurer of the National Awakening Party (PKB) DPP Bambang Susanto (DOK Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - General Treasurer of the National Awakening Party (PKB) DPP Bambang Susanto strongly condemned the leadership of the Xpose program on a private television due to broadcasts that were considered harassing scholars.

One of the scholars seen by PKB as being harassed in the broadcast was KH Anwar Manshur, the senior kiai of the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School, Kediri. Bambang assessed that television broadcasts should be careful before broadcasting content to the public.

"We at PKB deeply regret the show. Trans7 should have cross-checked it first before broadcasting any content to the public. Don't show something that actually offends the people and demeans the honor of the kiai," said Bambang in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 14.

He considered that the error could not be taken lightly because it involved the dignity and honor of the ulama. As a party rooted in the pesantren, PKB is ready to deploy students to demo the television office.

"PKB is ready to consolidate santri and the pesantren community to take action to Trans7 if the management does not immediately apologize publicly and revoke all broadcasts that offend KH. Anwar Manshur," he said.

Bambang also urged the total evaluation of the editorial team and the production of the Xpose program. He proposed that the television involve journalists with a santri background, in order to understand the values, ethics, and customs in the pesantren tradition.

"Santri dididik untuk menjaga adab kepada gurunya, menghormati ilmunya, dan berhati-hati dalam berkatakan. Kalau nilai-nilai seperti ini ditangami oleh para pekerja media, saya yakin tidak akan muncul aman yang menyinggkan kiai," jelasnya.

Meanwhile, Member of Commission I DPR Syamsu Rizal also urged the Ministry of Communication and Digital Indonesia (Komdigi) and the Press Council to immediately summon the private television management to be questioned and held accountable.

"Komdigi and the Press Council must be firm. Do not let violations like this be underestimated. This concerns the dignity of religious leaders and public trust in the media," said Syamsu Rizal in a different statement.

Syamsu Rizal also revealed that Commission I of the DPR RI, which is in charge of communication and informatics, media, and broadcasting affairs, will also summon the Komdigi and the Press Council to discuss this issue in depth.

Commission I will summon Komdigi and the Press Council in a working meeting to ask for clarification and steps to be taken. The Trans7 show clearly violates the rules, and we don't want the same thing to happen again," he said.