The president said the press or the media belongs to the public and should work for their interests. Therefore, the press must report accurately, constructively, and fairly as well as cover both parties contesting the election.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he noticed that the Indonesian press was divided in reporting on the presidential election issues.
"In the presidential election 2014, it seems - I might be wrong, but this is what I gauge - that our press and media are divided. Take a look at the easiest ones, Metro TV and TV One," President Yudhoyono said in a coordinating meeting on the implementation of the presidential and vice presidential elections 2014, in Sentul in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.
The coordinating meeting was attended by governors, district chiefs, mayors, military personnel, high-ranking officials from the police force, first-level officials from the home affairs ministry, members of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the Attorney General, employees from the police headquarters as well as members of the General Election Commission (KPU), the Election Supervisory Board (Panwaslu), and other related institutions.
The president said the press or the media belongs to the public and should work for their interests. Therefore, the press must report accurately, constructively, and fairly as well as cover both parties contesting the election.
"It is easier said than done by reporters and media owners," he added.
The press disseminates information to the public and, therefore, he will never stop giving his critical views on the press, the president added.
"Although, I will no longer be the president later, the press should be fair, balanced, accurate and constructive," he noted.
The media play a major role in making the presidential election a success, he stated.
Indonesia will hold the presidential election on July 9, 2014, with two presidential candidate pairs competing. They are Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla.
This years presidential election is the third democratic elections, which has been organized since Indonesia underwent political reforms in late 1990s and early 2000s.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
