Palace Affirms President Jokowi Is Not Disturbed By Butet Kertaredjasa's Blasphemy

Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana delivered a press statement at the State Secretariat Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (31/1/2024). (ANTARA/Yashinta Difa)

JAKARTA - Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was not disturbed by the satire conveyed by Butet Kertaredjasa cultural observers addressed to him.

"The principle built by the President in (responding to) many problems, whether it's blasphemy, insults, satire, slander, is normal. The president is not disturbed by that and even acts normal in responding to it," Ari said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 31.

According to him, President Jokowi's attitude in responding to various blasphemy or slander directed at him has never changed, since the first period of his administration in 2014-2019 even towards the end of the current period of his two governments.

Previously, Butet Kertaredjasa read out a rhyme containing criticism of Jokowi, during a campaign event for presidential and vice presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md in Yogyakarta on January 28.

Through this rhyme, Butet criticized the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which was considered by many parties to have smoothed the steps of Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to run in the 2024 presidential election contestation accompanied the presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

Butet's action was then responded to by the volunteer group Pro Jokowi (Projo), who reported Butet to the police because he was considered to have insulted President Jokowi.

Responding to the police report, Ari emphasized that the palace would not intervene in the legal process against Butet.

According to him, Projo has the right to file a legal process for Butet's actions, and President Jokowi will not interfere in this matter.

"That's a legal domain. Every citizen has the right to do that. So I think those are two things that must be separated; the law is the right of the reporter and the legal process is running," he said.