KPI Sanctions Temporarily Stop Xpose Uncensored Trans7 Imbas Kites About Islamic Boarding Schools

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has imposed a temporary suspension of the "Xpose Uncensored" broadcast program broadcast by Trans7. ANTARA/HO-Indonesian Broadcasting Commission

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has imposed a temporary suspension of the "Xpose Uncensored" broadcast program broadcast by Trans7 due to broadcasts about Islamic boarding schools that caused public unrest.

"KPI considers that there have been violations of Article 6 of the 2012 KPI Broadcasting Code (P3), Article 6 paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 16 paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 letter (a) of the 2012 KPI Broadcast Program Standard (SPS)," said the Chairman of the Ubaidillah Central KPI in a statement reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 14.

He conveyed this after the Plenary Meeting of Sanctions which was held by the Central KPI on Tuesday night.

Ubaidillah explained that the provisions in P3 stated that broadcasting institutions must respect differences in ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup which include cultural diversity, age, gender, and/or socio-economic life.

Meanwhile, the SPS provisions state that broadcast programs are prohibited from harassing, insulting, and/or demeaning educational institutions.

In particular, Article 16 paragraph 2 letter (a) contains the provisions for describing educational institutions that must follow the provisions of not making fun of educators/students.

For this broadcast, KPI has received many complaints from community groups who object to this show because it is felt that it distorts the lives of pesantren, santri and kiai leaders of Islamic boarding schools.

KPI also summoned Trans7 to provide clarification on the presence of the show. Ubaidillah assessed that the presence of broadcasts that cornered pesantren life through the Trans7 program hurt many parties, especially students.

According to him, kiai and pesantren are not objects that deserve to be made fun of in a program as featured in the show.

"In Islamic boarding schools there are adab, compassion and care, knowledge and a long history of struggle, including in the history of the independence of this nation, which has been done so far," he said.

The "Xpose Uncensored" program is considered to injure the noble values of broadcasting which should serve as a bridge to strengthen national integration.

Ubaidillah encouraged Trans7 to make a comprehensive correction to broadcasts involving the life of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia, including groups or other communities.

"At least it must present qualified figures as an equalizer in structuring events. This also needs to be considered by other broadcasting institutions in order to prioritize prudence in compliance with regulatory regulations so that the public receives correct information," concluded Ubaidillah.