Saipul Jamil Is Not A Hero, Let Alone A Victim, Stop Treating Him Like He Is

Welcoming the freedom of Saipul Jamil (VOI)

JAKARTA - Saipul Jamil is free after being jailed for eight years for sexual harassment. He walked out of the Cipinang Prison, East Jakarta with the welcome of his family, friends, and the mass media glorifying Saipul and his moment of freedom. Controversy arose. Is the perspective of the mass media correct in packaging Saipul's coverage, so that he looks like a hero, even a victim? We look into this issue.

From the coverage that aired on television as well as YouTube and social media accounts of a number of mass media -- especially infotainment, it seems that Saipul was greeted with a bucket of flowers. Saipul also smiled and waved a lot. In one scene, the mass media intercepted Saipul, interviewed him, while as usual, asked Ipul to sing. A voice suddenly emerged from the mass media crowd, asking Saipul, "Bang Ipul is traumatized or not?"

Saipul replied, “Yes, definitely traumatized. So friends, be careful. Be wise and always be alert. We don't know where the enemy is. It can be considered a good friend but it turns out he is our enemy. But that's okay. The important thing is that we are sincere." said Saipul Jamil. Ipul's statement is in the spotlight. He is considered a playing victim and tries to lead opinions to certain conclusions. Saipul's brother, Samsul Hidayatullah, denies this assumption.

"Nothing. It depends on what people say. Each one's perception, mas, is that right," said Samsul when contacted by VOI, Friday, September 3.

Saipul's narrative is so important. This determines whether the broadcast welcoming Saipul by a number of television stations this morning violated the broadcasting regulations or not. We discussed it with the Commissioner of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) Nuning Rodiyah. "If the show gives Saipul Jamil room to justify the behavior that was carried out so many years ago, it's normal and natural, of course that's the part that has the potential to violate."

Saipul Jamil (VOI)

"But if you present Saipul Jamil as a fact, that he got out of prison, it doesn't matter... The problem when the content is 'I'm okay with it. It's not a wrong thing when I sexually harassed.' That is absolutely prohibited," said Nuning, stressing that the potential for violations did not disappear even though Saipul's false narratives were implied.

Then, regarding the news of an exclusive contract between several television stations to cover and broadcast the moment of welcoming Saipul free, Samsul also denied. "Actually, if the facts are not exclusivity, yes. In fact, yes. Because the prison itself mingles with other media friends. It means that it is not proven that exclusivity is exclusivity. Then all of them followed the journey to the parents' graves. There were several, more than four media if I see, yes."

Samsul also straightened out Saipul's reasons for mentioning a number of mass media in his first 'speech' in front of the press. "So actually why did Bang Ipul say all of that because he was grateful individually, hopefully his presence can be accepted by TV program friends. First for their presence. They came, media friends were not invited, you know. There was no invitation."

Samsul further explained that Saipul would return to the entertainment world. A number of jobs are prepared. First, a music album. According to Samsul, Saipul has signed a contract with MSI Records to release a full album. In addition, the management has prepared a YouTube channel for Saipul, which Samsul claims has received a warm welcome from fans. Contracts to appear in several television programs have also been signed.

"For TV programs, we haven't been able to get regular TV programs. They are still guest stars. So there's nothing special about it. It means that trust itself is being tested on Saipul, how does he perform, does he change, does his performance decrease after he is released. We don't know. Only they know. In a survey, yes. Maybe there is a separate survey.

"If you go to YouTube itself, Alhamdulillah. The response is very good. So it is well received. The viewer is good. Thank God there are many comments that support it. It means that they really miss Saipul's presence. And Saipul itself is actually not a sensational artist. No ... Several songs have also been released. Until Alhamdulillah, it is believed by this MSI label that he is serious about one album, you know. That is also one album with a condition of seven months before being released."

Television coverage of Saipul

Welcoming the freedom of Saipul Jamil (VOI)

Director of Remotivi Yovantra Arief highlighted the lack of sensitivity of a number of mass media coverage to this issue. Yovantra views the glorification of Saipul's coverage as media capitalization. There is no more plausible reason. The logic of sensationalism is deliberately put forward to lure the audience. Worse yet, many media lead the logic of their reporting to be wrong and misleading. And this is clearly detrimental to the victim.

"If you want to use SBY's language, it's worrying, that's right... When for example the victim hears that Saipul is free and sees how much Saipul is hailed by the media, it is precisely the victim who is traumatized, not Saipul. That is very insensitive news," said Yovantra , contacted by VOI, Friday, September 3.

"There was even one news report saying 'Saipul will not hold grudges against the victim.' Yes, when Saipul was vengeful. It didn't make sense. He wasn't a victim. He was the perpetrator. That's wrong on many levels," added Yovantra.

This is not a new problem. Yovantra describes sensationalism as a boring spice that is constantly used by the media and other public broadcasters. Even when it comes to the Saipul case, the wrong attitude has been shown from the start. "When the case first emerged, many media played sensationalism and highlighted that the victims were men. The news was not sexual violence, but the point is that now many artists are LGBT," Yovantra.

"Remotivi believes that the media is not neutral. The media must be independent. The media must have a clear public position ... And in cases of violence against people who are more weakened than their social position, the media must have a position there. They must be in the position of the people. the oppressed in quotes. In cases of sexual violence the media should side with the victim."

Furthermore, Yovantra explained that the mass media's perspective on sexual harassment was a cultural thing. This means that it is not driven by a single factor. There are some things that are entrenched, even starting from the thick patriarchal culture, which sees women only as objects. "We are used to on TV, sports shows, for example, women are often present as sweeteners. With certain clothes, clothes that are open."

"And not just sports shows. In many shows, women are often used as objects. What is important is beautiful, what is important is sexy. And we are used to seeing women from that perspective. Rarely are their abilities, ways of thinking, intelligence, they are rarely shown. things that also have an effect in general."

Misleading opinion

Saipul Jamil when he was released from prison (Source: Special)

Pay attention to the substance in the mass media coverage of welcoming Saipul's freedom today. Have any of you heard a question from a reporter to Saipul? "No trauma, no trauma?"

Saipul answered, "Yes, it must be traumatized," before he suddenly 'had luck.'

"So friends, be careful, be wise and always be vigilant. We don't know where there are enemies. A friend may be considered a good friend but it turns out he is our enemy. But that's okay, the important thing is that we are sincere." said Saipul.

Director of Remotivi Yovantra Arief also highlighted this. According to him, this is a misleading opinion. If you explore the substance and look at the context of the whole case, the mass media not only show their failure to present a show that is wise but also shows that Saipul does not regret his actions.

And this attitude, which is shown to the public, is of course very problematic. "His prison experience is not in quotation marks showing his transformation from child molester, and he also took bribes at the time."

"There is no sign of remorse, a sign that he realized he was wrong, what was there, he was a victim, he was traumatized in prison, that was very problematic. Because this is a person who committed sexual violence and was proven in court, free, shows no remorse but still being hailed as if he was a hero. And I think the media is very capitalizing on this," Yovantra.

*Read other information about SEXUAL HARASSMENT or read other interesting articles from Bitor Ekin Putra and Yudhistira Mahabharata.

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