TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bagir Manan, the Chief of Press Board, requested the media to return the trust from society upon general election administration. Despite being neutral, media is expected to be able to present a future leader that the society needs, in order to improve their participation.
"The Press as the fourth pillar of democracy should be able to endorse the candidates. Not only rhetorically, but the press must answer the needs of the society," said Bagir Manan after Press Board Discussion on Tuesday, July 2.
The level of the society’s participation in the upcoming general election reached only 65 percent, a serious downfall after 1998's reformation age that presented 93 percent.
However, Bagir mentioned, the media is under society’s surveillance, especially in concern of its independence at general election. The issue blew stronger as some media moguls decided to go into politics, declaring themselves as presidential candidate. "That leaves people asking, can the media still be independent?" he said.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS
