Kurawa - Media Twitter Row Catches State Minister's Attention

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny G. Plate delivered his comments concerning the recent fiasco occurring in Twitter between Rudi Valinka, owner of Twittter handle @kurawa, and a number of online news outlets regarding a news coverage on Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

The Minister urged 'buzzers' to utilize social media more wisely amidst the flash floods that devastated a number of regions. 

"Twitter and other social media like Facebook, or whatever platform should be used wisely," said Johnny at the Presidential Palace on Monday, January 6, 2020. 

The Johnny also warned buzzers to stop using social media as a platform to spark conflict and other nefarious means. 

The Twitter debate started when @kurawa accused kompas.com, detik.com, liputan6.com, and kumparan.com of being paid by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to publish report that can improve the governor's image during the recent flood disaster. 

@kurawa accuses the media outlets of being under the governor's payroll after the published strikingly similar news reports on the same day. 

Minister Johnny said that the media outlets accused by @kurawa should not fear if the news reports have followed journalistic guidelines. "Was the media bribed? No? Then why fear [the accusation]?" said the Minister. 

"What's clear is that if [this Twitter row] is slander, then it is a legal issue," Johnny said.

AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI