Here's The Response Of The Press Council Regarding Minister Bahlil's Complaints

Minister of Investment-Head of BKPM and Golkar politician, Bahlil Lahadalia. (Merry-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Press Council issued a Statement of Assessment and Recommendation (PPR) regarding the complaint of the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia against Tempo.

In the recommendation letter, the Press Council asked Tempo to send an apology letter and serve Bahlil's right to answer because the news about mining permits was inaccurate.

"Teradu (Tempo) is obliged to serve proportionally the Right to Responsibility of the Complaint (Bahlil), accompanied by an apology to the complainant and the reader's community, no later than the next edition after the right to answer is accepted," wrote Chairman of the Press Council Ninik Rahayu in a letter received by VOI, Tuesday 19 March.

Ninik explained that Bahlil was also asked to give Tempo the right to answer no later than seven working days after the letter from the Press Council was accepted in a recitation format with the principles of reporting or journalistic works, but should not change the substance or meaning of the right to answer submitted.

"The defendant is obliged to report the evidence of the PPR's follow-up to the Press Council no later than 3 x 24 hours after the Right to Answer is published. If the complainant does not give the right to answer within the time limit, then Defendant is not obliged to contain the right to answer," the letter reads.

In the letter, it was written that if Tempo did not serve his right to answer, he could be fined Rp. 500,000,000. This decision is also final and ethically binding. In the letter Tempo was proven to have violated Article 1 of the journalistic code of ethics.

Responding to the recommendation letter, Bahlil said he respected Tempo as a credible medium. He also admitted that he respected the Press Freedom Act in force in the country.

"Alhamdulillah, today we just received it, I just received a love letter from the Press Council stating that Tempo in the conclusions and recommendations of the Press Council apologized to me as a complainant and gave a proportional right to answer and violated article 1 of the code of ethics, that was a recommendation from the Ethics Council. But I like it, we are friends," Bahlil said in his statement.

Bahlil added that he still views Tempo as one of the great media. Likewise with other media that can coordinate and collaborate with the government for the good of Indonesia.

"I really appreciate Tempo. Tempo is my subscription magazine, my favorite. Since students, I like it and I appreciate it. I believe the government's performance can only run well if there is positive coordination and collaboration between all media and the government," said Bahlil.

Previously, Minister Bahlil reported reports and content related to alleged mining permit requests in Tempo Magazine and Tempo's Bocor Alus Politic (BAP) podcast content to the Press Council.

Bahlil gave the Special Staff to the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Tina Talisa who met the Press Council accompanied by the Head of the Legal Bureau Rilke Jeffri Huwae at the Press Council Building, Jakarta, Monday, March 4, 2024.