Palapa Ring Launch; Jokowi Calls for Halt to Social Media Hatred

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During the inauguration of the operations of the Palapa Ring telecommunication network infrastructure project, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo maintained that this milestone of the country’s communication must be used to boost a number of sectors, such as economy, social issues, culture, politics, and governance. 

The president reminded that the country’s major internet infrastructure should be used to strengthen Indonesia’s unity rather than as a means to send the nation into conflict. 

“It must not be used to spread hate. This must not be used for that purpose, definitely not for slanders, hoaxes, fake news. These must be prevented,” said Jokowi at the State Palace on Monday.

According to the president, the culture of attacking each other verbally via social media platforms must be ended. 

He then explained that digital connectivity must be used to elevate people’s welfare and develop the nation. He said this could be done, among others, by spreading knowledge digitally to rural areas that could lead to SMEs being exposed to the national marketplace, and eventually landed in the global marketplace. 

“If it is connected, later on, rural areas will be connected to the national marketplace, and then enter the global marketplace. That is what we yearn for,” said President Jokowi.

AHMAD FAIZ