Hendry Ch Bangun: Prof. Azyumardi Azra Amat Aktif In A Short Time Of Leadership

Chairman of the Press Council, Prof. Azyumardi Azra. (Doc of Press Council)

JAKARTA - The late Prof. Azyumardi Azra was recently confirmed as Chairman of the Press Council. In the early days of his leadership in Hendry Ch Bangun's observation of the Deputy Chairman of the Press Council for the 2019-2022 period, the deceased was very concerned about the problems faced by the Indonesian press, especially the threat to press freedom.

"Not even four months before he served as Chairman of the Dawan Pers, if it is calculated that he has only been leading for three days. However, in the early days his leadership was seen that Prof. Azyumardi was very concerned about press issues in Indonesia," he told VOI who contacted after the news of the death of the deceased in neighboring country, Malaysia.

What is noted by Hendry is the issue of the Criminal Code Bill which can threaten press freedom as a priority for the deceased. "After being sworn in, he immediately contacted various parties so that the Criminal Code Bill could be reviewed on articles that threaten press freedom before being promulgated. He had contacted Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, then separately he also visited the factions in the DPR RI. This is all a form of his concern for the threat of press freedom that could occur when the Criminal Code Bill was enacted," he said.

The deceased, continued Hendry, was very concerned about the threat of press freedom in this country. He hopes that the steps that have been taken by Prof. Azyumardi Azra can be continued by members of the Press Council and other parties who have the same aspirations regarding the importance of press freedom. Every legal product that threatens freedom of the press needs to be observed and revised so that it does not become a prisoner of press in carrying out its duties.

One of the notes of Hendry, the late while serving as Chairman of the Press Council, was very diligent in visiting the headquarters of the Press Council and attending events related to the press. "He could come or attend the Press Council Office a few times a week. Whereas the previous officials were at most a week. And if there was an event held by a press organization, a press association that he would take part in. Maybe that's curiosity about the deceased who is high in his new duties as Chairman of the Press Council," he continued.

Finally, continued Hendry late, he was very happy when he heard the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which rejected the lawsuit for judicial review of Article 15 paragraph (2) letter f, and Article 15 paragraph (5) of Law No. 40 1999 concerning the Press. As a form of gratitude, the Press Council held a thanksgiving for the moment. According to the Constitutional Court, the norms of Article 15 paragraph 2 letter 'f' and Article 15 paragraph 5 of the Press Law are not at all contrary to the norms of the constitution, especially with Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution.

According to Hendry as the former Deputy Chairman of the Press Council, the Press Council's activities were indeed very high. This was experienced by him while serving in the Press Council. "The same thing he saw in the figure of the late Azyumardi Azra while leading the Press Council. We all Indonesian press people are deeply saddened by his departure," said Hendry ending the conversation.