PDI-P politician at odds with online journos

DENPASAR: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Bali chapter chairman AA Oka Ratmadi is under fire after he allegedly accused reporters working for online news outlets of “twisting” his statement. Ratmadi claimed that he had never issued a statement that PDI-P would not endorse Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika’s second-term bid in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Scores of reporters demanded Ratmadi issue a public apology, claiming that the seasoned politician had indeed issued the controversial statement.

“We have his statement on tape,” a journalist, Komang Suparta, said.

Noted lawyer, and Ratmadi’s confidant, Made Sudiantara, has tried to mediate the conflict, stating that it is impossible that Ratmadi had purposefully offended members of the press.