Prabowo Urged To Evaluate Palace Officials After Revocation Of Journalist ID Asks MBG Toxics

President Prabowo Subiantor (doc the Presidential Media Team)

JAKARTA - The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta and the Press Legal Aid Institute (LBH) condemned the decision of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat to revoke the coverage identity card (ID press) of the CNN Indonesia journalist Palace with the initials DV.

AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers urged the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat to apologize and return the press ID of the Palace belonging to DV journalists, as well as evaluate the official concerned.

"Urge President Prabowo Subianto to evaluate officials of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat who revoked the press ID of the DV Palace," said AJI Jakarta Chair Irsyan Hasyim in a joint statement with LBH Pers quoted on Monday, September 29.

The revocation of the DV press ID occurred after the agenda of President Prabowo Subianto's arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on Saturday (27/9/2025). Prabowo arrived at Halim after visiting four countries.

On that occasion, DV asked about cases of poisoning in the free nutritious eating program (MBG) which is widespread in various regions. Prabowo was actually willing to answer that question and rise in various media.

Based on information compiled by AJI and LBH Pers, the Palace Bureau directly took the ID of the DV palace at the CNN office at 20.00 WIB. The Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat assessed the question of MBG poisoning outside the context of the agenda so that it decided to revoke the DV press ID.

AJI and LBH Pers reminded Article 3 paragraph (1) of the Press Law that the national press, including CNN Indonesia, has a function as a medium of information, namely education, entertainment, and social control.

The actions or questions raised by CNN journalists also included carrying out the journalistic work of Article 6 paragraph point D which reads, supervision, criticism, correction, and suggestions on matters relating to the public interest, in this case MBG which is President Prabowo's priority program.

Article 18 of the Press Law also states, everyone who deliberately commits actions that result in hindering or obstructing the implementation of Article 4 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of 2 years or a maximum fine of Rp. 500 million.

Article 4 paragraph (2) of the Press Law reads 'with respect to the national press is not subject to censorship, braking or banning broadcasting', and paragraph 3 reads to ensure press independence, the national press has the right to seek, acquire, and disseminate ideas and information'.

According to the journalistic code of ethics, journalists must get a balance of the contents of the news and the parties, including obtaining a balance of statements from President Prabowo regarding MBG which is his flagship program.

After all, he said, in Law Number 14 of 2008, regarding Public Information Disclosure was emphasized, all public officials as long as he used public budgets there was no reason to cover up information to the public.

President Prabowo's statement that he would summon the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the evaluation of the MBG program is an effort for public openness and can be a balance of the news of poisoning circulating in the community. Moreover, Prabowo said MBG is a big program.

These kinds of cases are not only attacks on individuals, but also attacks on public rights to obtain information. The state should not allow incidents like this to repeat itself," said Irsyan Hasyim.

AJI Jakarta and LBH Pers emphasized that the practice of hindering journalistic work will only worsen the climate of press freedom in Indonesia.

"Reminding all parties, including the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat, that the work of journalists is protected by Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press. All forms of violence or obstruction to journalists are violations of law and democracy," he concluded.