TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Press Council and the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) urged the removal of articles concerning press affairs from the draft of Job Creation Bill or RUU Cipta Kerja.

"We request that rules on the press in the Job Creation bill be removed," said the Press Council Board member Agung Dharmajaya in a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Legislation Body today, June 11.

The Press Council has written two times to the DPR on the contents of the bill regarding the press. Stakeholders of the press were also never involved in the bill drafting.

Two articles of Law No. 40/1999 on Press reportedly will be adjusted via the omnibus law, which is Article 11 on foreign investment and Article 18 on sanctions for individuals or press companies that violate it.

The amendments of Article 18, particularly paragraphs 3 and 4, were highlighted more since they were considered to allow the government to intervene in the freedom and independence of the press.

The Press Council member Arif Zulkifli said that Law No. 40/1999 mandates the press to regulate itself or is self-regulatory. This, Arif added, is what distinguishes the press law from other laws.

“When there are regulations that need to be elaborated, the Press Council then discusses it along with all its constituents,” Arif remarked.

However, the Press Council opened the room for press affairs to be regulated in the Job Creation Bill, yet the articles must be re-deliberated from the beginning. “Discuss the bill from the beginning, especially on the drafting of articles related to the press sector,” Agung added.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI