House Postpones Discussion of Broadcasting Bill

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives, Supratman Andi Agtas, said that the discussion on the broadcasting bill would be postponed based on a request from the Gerindra Party faction.

Supratman said that the Baleg had been discussing the revision of the Broadcasting Law and a meeting had been held on the presentation of the proposer, Commission I. 

“Our party faction (Gerindra) has ordered a temporary halt to the discussion of the broadcasting bill, especially those related to two issues; the position of the Press Council and investigative journalism,” the Gerindra Party politician said after a plenary meeting at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta on Tuesday, May 28.

Supratman said the reason for the delay was that he did not want to interfere with the freedom of the press. The press, he added, is a locomotive and one of the pillars of democracy that must be maintained.

On Monday, May 27, press associations, student press associations, and pro-democracy organizations staged a protest against the broadcasting bill in front of the DPR building, raising three demands; the immediate cancellation of all problematic articles; the involvement of press organizations, student press associations, and pro-democracy organizations during the process; and the protection of press freedom and freedom of expression in any legal regulation.

They also criticized at least five problematic articles contained in the bill dated March 27, including the ban on exclusive broadcast of investigative journalism.

Previous reports suggested that the DPR scheduled a session on the broadcasting bill for May 29, 2024. 

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA | DEFARA DHANYA PARAMITHA | HENDRIK KHOIRUL MUHID

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