TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A networking group dubbed the Jaringan Bonus Demokrasi (JBD) revealed to Tempo that it had paid social media public figures and influencers to promote and rally support for the generally-controversial draft law (RUU) known as the Omnibus Bill or Omnibus Law.

This online movement is notably accompanied by the hashtag, #Indonesiabutuhkerja, or Indonesia needs jobs to better entice online followers.

“[We spent] from Rp1.5 million, Rp2.5 million, up to Rp10 million for the 22 celebrities,” said JBD coordinator Yoki Yusanto in a thorough interview with Tempo’s newspaper brand Koran Tempo on Tuesday, August 18.

Yoki’s name emerged after mainstream mass media reported about the celebrity movement in support of the Job Creation Bill - under the Omnibus Bill - that is promoted by JBD. Yoki is said to be a lecturer of communication science at the Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University located in Banten.

He claims other campus practitioners are involved in this controversial movement. Yoki argues that the messages promoted by celebrities bridge the agenda set by JBD’s sponsors, which the group claim comes from joint funding from academics and young entrepreneurs.

Despite not revealing the identities of these financial backers, Yoki assures the funding JBD receives are not sourced from government budgets or entrepreneurs with hidden personal interests.

Previously reported, public relations practitioner Fendy Angger Alam who claims to broker between financial backers and the celebrities said to Tempo that the five so-called social media influencers include Ardhito Pramono, Goffar Hilman and Rigen Rakelna.

Fendy claims up to Rp200 million rupiah, of Rp15 million each, were paid to the social media figures to promote the Omnibus Bill or Omnibus Law. However, Yoki denies that level of spending took place and claims some influencers had even only been paid with dinner.

Read also: Labor Unions Prep Large-scale Protests Against Omnibus Law

KORAN TEMPO | AVIT HIDAYAT