Rocky Gerung Apologizes For "My Friend" Makes Noise, But No Sorry To Jokowi

Rocky Gerung at a press conference in Central Jakarta (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Rocky Gerung realized that his criticism of President Joko Widodo for the issue of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) development project to make "men's" and "tolels" make noise. Rocky also apologized for his remarks causing disputes in society. "I understand that this case then opened up a dispute to the public between the pros and cons. Well, that's what caused the furore, the furore could be interpreted as legal trouble. I apologize for today's situation, which caused the dispute to continue without that direction," said Rocky at a press conference in Central Jakarta, Friday, August 4th. However, there was no apology that Rocky conveyed to Jokowi. Meanwhile, Rocky is currently reported to the police for alleged hate speech and statements that caused trouble. Rocky claims he did not insult Jokowi personally. He views only criticizing Jokowi as the leader of state institutions. "I regret that the legal issue that I said from the start was my criticism of President Jokowi which I said sharply and that I used to say that everywhere. I did not criticize or insult Jokowi individually. No," he stressed. Moreover, Rocky believes that Jokowi does not feel insulted by what he said. This can be seen from Jokowi's attitude in not reporting Rocky to the police. "I think Pak Jokowi also understands, that's what caused Pak Jokowi not to report me. Pak Jokowi understands what I said was criticism of his public position, his public office. The points were there," explained Rocky. Polda Metro Jaya has received three police reports (LP) with reported Rocky Gerung and Refly Harun. The first report was made by the United Indonesia Volunteers, on Monday, July 31, 2023. The report is registered with the number LP/B/4459/VII/2023/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya. Then, a day later, the former Democrat Party politician Ferdinand Hutahaen also reported Rocky Gerung and Refly Harun to Polda Metro Jaya. The report is registered with the number LP/B/4465/VIII/2023/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya. Third, reporting is carried out by someone representing the Democratic Volunteer Group. The report is registered with the number LP/B/4504/VIII/2023/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya, dated August 2, 2023. The three reports started with podcast content broadcast on YouTube Refly Harun. Rocky Gerung's statement at the event was considered to contain elements of insulting Jokowi and unethical. Several words or statements by Rocky Gerung were considered hate speech. "Once Jokowi loses his power he becomes an ordinary person, no one cares later. But Jokowi's ambition is to maintain his legacy. He offers IKN, pacing to the coalition, to find clarity on his fate," said Rocky in the video.

"He thinks his fate is not our fate, it's an stupid guy, as well as a coward. If he's a smart guy, he wants to accept arguing with Jumhur Hidayat. It's magical, a coward but a coward," continued Rocky criticizing Jokowi.