Criticism Response, Commission I Of The House Of Representatives Ensures That The Broadcasting Bill Will Not Have Press Freedom

Illustration of journalists (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I DPR RI Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi, responded to criticism of the draft Revision of Law (UU) Number 32 of 2002 concerning Broadcasting. Bobby ensured that there was no element to suppress press freedom in the draft bill.

"This is the same with the subtance discourse in the revision of the ITE Law, where oral and writing matters have been regulated in the Criminal Code such as hate speech and others. It is only expanded in digital format," Bobby told reporters, Monday, May 13.

In addition, Bobby continued, the contents of the Broadcasting Bill were adjusted to the journalistic code of ethics. According to him, there is no change in norms. "What is regulated in the Journalistic Code of Ethics in a mass media format, is continued in broadcast format," he said. The Golkar Party legislator explained that broadcasting activities at broadcast frequency are included in the realm of the journalistic Code of Ethics. However, the frequency of active broadcasts at telecommunications frequency (OTT) is 'excepted'. "Do not let there be an 'exclusion' attempt, a journalistic activity in OTT that wants to be distinguished or without a Journalistic Code of Ethics," he said.

"Because of his enthusiasm, we want the public to get positive things from broadcasting activities and protect against counterproductive, speculative things that lead to negative things," continued Bobby. Bobby added, currently the draft Broadcasting Bill is still at the table of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI and has not been returned to Commission I for comprehensive discussion.

"Not yet back to Commission I," said Bobby.

When it begins to be discussed, said Bobby, Commission I will involve public participation to sit down together to discuss and receive input related to the substance of journalism in the Broadcasting Bill.

Bobby also invited the public to submit a judicial review to the Constitutional Court (MK) if later in the Broadcasting Bill it was not as desired.

"It can be submitted to the Constitutional Court, I hope there is an understanding such as the time when the ITE Law was sued up to six times," Bobby concluded.

It is known that the draft Broadcasting Bill has drawn polemics because it is considered to suppress press freedom.

The Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), the Press Council, and the Indonesian Journalists Alliance (AJI) responded to the Broadcasting Bill. They unanimously considered the bill to be negative for press independence.