TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Head of Public Relations of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) Ferdinandus Setu, said that despite criticism, the Ministry will continue to advertise the government's achievements in cinemas. According to him, it was in accordance with the law and not considered to be a form of a campaign as many had argued.

Ferdinandus said that if the advertisement was removed, it would legitimize the comment saying that it was a campaign product. "If we remove it, it means we admit it," said Ferdinandus on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Ferdinandus said that the Telecommunication and Informatics Ministry, as the public relation institution for the government has been tasked to announce the government's achievements. Such action is regulated in Law No. 39 of 2008 on State Ministry, Presidential Regulation No. 54 of 2015, and Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2015.

Nevertheless, Ferdinandus said that the Ministry will take note of the criticism. "It's free to argue, please do it," Ferdinandus said.

Previously, the public service announcements in theaters were widely discussed on social media. It displays the construction on several dams in Indonesia. At the end of it, there was a quote from President Joko Widodo followed by a hashtag #MENUJUINDONESIAMAJU (TOWARDSDEVELOPEDINDONESIA).

FIKRI ARIGI